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Case,  Division 

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SACRED  BIOGRAPHY: 

OR,    THE 

^istorp  of  ti)t  ^atnarcfjs;* 

TO   WHICH  IS  ADDED, 

THE  HISTORY  OF 
DEBORAH,  RUTH,  AND  HANNAH. 

BEING 

A  COURSE  OF  LECTURES 

DELIVERED    AT    THE 

SCOTS  CHURCH,    LONDON  WALL. 

BY  HENRY  HUNTER,  D.D. 

%^t  "StcoiiB  ante^ican  ©citiom 

Complete  in  Four  Volumes. 


VOL.  H. 


yejus   said  unto  them,  Verily,  -verily,  I  say  ufitoyou,  Before    Abraham 

ivas,  lam. John  viii.  58. 

/  am  Alpha  and   Omega,  the  begiiining  and  the  ending,  saith  the  Lord, 

lukich  is,  and  ivhich  luas,  and  'which  is  to  come,  the  Almighty,        •   - 

Revelation  i.  8. 


^urlingtan : 

PUBLISHED  Br  DA  FID  JLLINSOy. 
NEW-YORK,     PRINTED    BY   ROBERT   CRUM8IE. 

180*6, 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/sacredbiograp02hunt 


Contente 


OF 


VOLUME   IL 


LECTURE  I. 

INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE. 

TAGE 

Luke  XX.  27,  S8 — Then  came  to  him  certain  of  the  Sadducees 
(whicli  deny  that  there  is  any  resurrection)  and  they  asked 
him,  saying.  Master,  Moses  wrote  unto  us,  If  any  man's  bro- 
ther die,  having  a  wife,  and  he  die  without  children,  that  his 
brother  should  take  his  wife,  and  raise  up  seed  unto  his  bro- 
ther. There  were  therefore  seven  brethren  ;  and  the  first 
took  a  wife,  and  died  without  children.  And  the  second  took 
her  to  wife,  and  he  died  childless.  And  the  third  took  her  ; 
and  in  like  manner  the  seven  also  :  and  they  left  no  children, 
and  died.  Last  of  all  the  woman  died  also.  Therefore  in 
the  resurrection  whose  wife  of  them  is  she  ?  for  seven  had 
her  to  wife.  And  Jesus  answering,  said  unto  them.  The 
children  of  this  world  marry,  and  are  given  in  marriage.  But 
they  which  shall  he  accounted  worthy  to  obtain  that  world, 
and  the  resurrection  from  the  dead,  neither  marry  nor  are 
givea  in  marriage.  Neither  can  they  die  any  more :  for 
they  iire  equal  unto  the  angels  ;  and  are  the  children  of  God, 
being  the  children  of  the  resurrection.  Now  that  the  dead 
are  raised,  even  Moses  shewed  at  the  bush,  when  he  called 
the  Lord,  the  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of  Isauc,  and 
the  God  of  Jacob.  For  he  is  not  a  God  of  the  dead,  but  of 
the  living  :  for  all  live  unto  him. 

LEG  rURE  II. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  2 

Heb.  xi.  24,  27. — By  faith  Moses,  when  iie  was  come  to  years, 
refused  to  be  called  the  sen  of  Pharaoh's  daughter  ;  choos- 
ing rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  than  to 
enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season.  Esteeming  the  re- 
proach of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the  treasures  of  Egypt  : 
for  he  had  respect  unto  the  recompense  of  the  reward.  By 
faith  he  forsook  Egypt,  not  fearing  the  wrath  of  the  king  : 
for  he  endured  as  seeing  him  who  ie  invisible. 


11  CONTENTS. 

LECTURE  III. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  27 

Exod.  iii.  13,  14. — Aad  INIoses  said  unto  God,  Behold,  when  I 
come  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  shall  say  unto  them, 
The  God  of  your  fathers  hath  sent  me  unto  you  :  and  they 
shall  say  to  me.  What  is  his  name  ?  What  shall  I  say  unto 
them  ?  And  God  said  unto  Moses,  I  AM  THAT  I  AM  ; 
and  he  said,  '1  hus  shalt  thou  say  unto  the  children  of  Israel, 
I  AM,  hath  sent  mc  unto  you. 

LECTURE  IV. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  5Q 

Exod.  vi.  9. — And  Moses  spake  so  unto  the  children  of  Is- 
rael :  but  they  hearkened  not  unto  Moses,  for  anguish  of 
spirit,  and  for  cruel  bondage. 

LECTURE  V. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  63 

Exod.  vi.  1. — Then  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Now  shalt  thou 
see  what  I  will  do  to  Pharaoh  :  for  with  a  stfong  hand  shall 
he  let  them  go,  and  with  a  strong  hand  shall  he  drive  them 
out  of  his  land. 

LECTURE  VI. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  75 

Exod.  X.  7. — And  Pharaoh's  servants  said  unto  him,  How 
long  shall  this  man  be  a  snare  unto  us  ?  Let  the  men  go, 
that  they  may  serve  the  Lord  their  God  :  knowest  thou  not 
yet  that  Egypt  is  destroyed. 

LECTURE  Vn. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  87 

Exod.  xii.  1,  3. — And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  Aaron 
in  the  land  of  Egypt,  saying.  This  month  shall  be  unto  you 
^  the  beginning  of  months  :  it  shall  be  the  first  month  of  the 
year  to  you.  Speak  unto  all  the  congregation  of  Israel, 
saying,  In  the  tenth  day  of  this  month  they  shall  take  to 
them  every  man  a  lamb,  according  to  the  house  of  their 
fathers,  a  lamb  for  an  house. 

LECTURE  VIII. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  10© 

Exod.  xii.  26,  27. — And  it  shall  come  to  pass  when  your  chil- 
dren shall  say  unto  you,  W' hat  mean  you  by  this  service  ? 
that  ye  shall  say,  It  is  the  sacrifice  of  the  Lord's  passover, 
who  passed  over  the  houses  of  the  children  of  Israel  in 
Egypt  when  he  smote  the  Egyptians,  and  delivered  our 
houses.     And  the  people  bowed  the  head  and  worshipped. 


CONTENTS.  Ill 

Psalm  xci.  5,  8  — Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror  by- 
night  ;  nor  for  the  arrow  that  ttieth  by  day  ;  nor  for  the  pes- 
tilence that  walketh  in  darkness  ;  nor  for  the  destruction 
that  wasteth  at  noon-duy.  A  thousand  shall  fall  at  thy  side, 
and  ten  thousand  at  t!iy  right  hand  ;  but  it  shall  not  come 
nigh  thee.  Only  with  thine  eyes  shalt  thou  behold)  and  see 
the  reward  of  the  wicked. 

LECTURE  IX. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  "  113 

Exod.  xiii.  17,  22. — And  it  came  to  pass  when  Pharaoh  had 
let  the  people  go,  that  God  led  them  not  through  the  way 
of  the  land  of  the  Philistines,  although  that  ivas  near  ;  for 
God  said,  Lest  peradventure  the  people  repent  Avhen  they 
see  war,  and  they  return  to  Eg-ypt.  But  God  led  the  peo- 
ple about,  through  the  way  of  the  wilderness  of  the  Red 
Sea,  And  the  children  of  Israel  went  up  harnessed  out  of 
the  land  of  Egypt.  And  Moses  took  the  bones  of  Joseph 
■with  him  :  for  he  had  straitly  sworn  the  children  of  Israel, 
saying,  God  will  surely  visit  you  ;  and  ye  shall  carry  up 
my  bones  away  hence  with  you.  And  they  took  their  jour- 
ney from  Succoth,  and  encamped  in  Etham,  in  the  edge  of 
the  wilderness.  And  the  Lord  went  before  them,  by  day 
in  a  pillar  of  a  cloud,  to  lead  them  the  way  ;  and  by  night 
in  a  pillar  of  fire,  to  give  them  light  to  go  by  day  and  night. 
He  took  not  away  the  pillar  of  the  cloud  by  day,  nor  the 
pillar  of  fire  by  night,yrom  before  the  people. 

LECTURE  X. 
HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  128 

Exod.  xiv.  21,  22. — And  Moses  stretched  out  his  hand  over 
the  sea  ;  and  the  Lord  caused  the  sea  to  go  back  by  a  strong 
east  wind  all  that  night,  and  made  the  sea  dry  land,  and  the 
waters  were  divided.  And  the  children  of  Israel  went  into 
the  midst  of  the  sea  upon  the  dry  ground  ;  and  the  waters 
were  a  wall  unto  them  on  their  right  hand,  and  on  their  left. 

LECRURE   XI. 

HISTORY    OF   MOSES.  141 

Exod.  XV.  1,  2. — Then  sang  Moses  and  the  children  of  Israel 
this  song  unto  the  Lord,  and  spake,  saying,  I  will  sing  unto 
the  Lord,  for  he  hath  triumphed  gloriously  ;  the  horse  and 
his  rider  hath  he  thrown  into  the  sea.  The  Lord  is  my 
strength  and  song,  and  he  is  become  my  salvation  :  he  is 
my  God,  and  I  will  prepare  him  an  habitation  ;  my  father's 
God,  and  I  will  exalt  him. 


IV  CONTENTS. 

LECTURE  XII. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES  157 

Exod.  XV.  23.  27. — And  when  they  came  to  Marah,  theycould 
not  drink  of  the  waters  of  Marah  ;  for  they  were  bitter  ; 
therefore  the  name  of  it  was  called  Marah.  And  the  peo- 
ple murmured  against  Moses,  saying,  What  shall  we  drink? 
And  he  cried  unto  the  Lord  ;  and  the  Lord  shewed  him  a 
tree,  which,  when  he  had  cast  into  the  waters,  the  waters 
were  made  sweet :  there  he  made  for  them  a  statute  and 
an  ordinarice,  and  there  he  proved  them,  and  said,  If  thou 
wilt  diligently  hearken  to  the  voice  of  the  Lord  thy  God, 
and  wilt  do  that  which  is  right  in  his  sight,  and  wilt  give 
ear  to  his  commandments,  and  keep  all  his  statutes  ;  I  will 
put  none  of  these  diseases  upon  thee  which  I  have  brought 
upon  the  Egyptians :  for  I  am  the  Lord  that  healeth  thee. 
And  they  came  to  Elim,  where  were  twelve  wells  of  water, 
and  three  score  and  ten  palm-trees  ;  and  they  encamped 
there  by  the  waters. 

LECTURE    XIIL 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  169 

Exod.  xvi.  1 1,  15. — And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying, 
I  have  heard  the  murmurings  of  the  children  of  Israel  ; 
speak  unto  them,  saying,  At  even  you  shall  cat  flesh,  and  in 
the  morning  ye  shall  be  filled  with  bread :  and  ye  shall  know 
that  I  am  the  Lord  your  God.  And  it  came  to  pass,  that 
at  even  the  quails  came  up  and  covered  the  camp  :  and  in 
the  morning  the  dew  lay  round  about  the  host.  And  when 
the  dew  that  lay  was  gone  up,  behold,  upon  the  face  of  the 
wilderness  there  lay  a  small  round  thing,  as  small  as  the 
hoar-frost  on  the  ground.  And  when  the  children  of  Israel 
saw  it,  they  said  one  to  another,  It  is  manna  ;  for  they  wist 
not  what  it  was.  And  Moses  said  unlo  them,  This  is  the 
bread  which  the  Lord  hath  given  you  to  eat. 

LECTURE  XIV. 

HISTORY    OF  MOSES.  182 

Exod.  xvii.  1,  2,  5,  6. — And  all  the  congregation  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  journeyed  from  the  wilderness  of  Sin,  after 
their  journies,  according  to  the  commandment  of  the  Lord, 
and  pitched  in  Rephidim  :  and  there  was  no  water  for  the 
people  to  drink.  "Wherefore  the  people  did  chide  with  Mo- 
ses, and  said,  give  us  water,  that  we  may  drink.  And  Mo- 
ses, said  unto  them.  Why  chide  you  with  me  ?  Wherefore 
do  ye  tempt  the  Lord?  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Go  on 
before  the  people,  and  take  with  thee  of  the  elders  of  Israel  ; 


CON  TEN  IS.  V. 

and  thy  rod,  wherewith  thou  smotest  the  river,  take  in  thine 
hand  and  go.  Behold,  I  will  stand  before  thee  there  upon 
the  rock  in  Horeb;  and  thou  shalt  smite  the  rock,  and  there 
shall  come  water  out  of  it,  that  tlie  people  may  drink.  And 
Moses  did  »o  in  the  sight  of  the  elders  of  Israel. 

LECTURE  XV. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  .196 

Exod.  xvii.  8,  13. — Then  came  Amalek,  and  fought  with  Is- 
rael in  Rephidim.  And  Moses  said  unto  Joshua,  Choose  us 
out  men,  and  go  out,  fight  with  Amalek  ;  to-morrow  I  will 
stand  on  the  top  of  the  hill  with  the  rod  of  God  in  mine 
hand.  So  Joshua  did  as  Moses  had  said  to  him,  and  fought 
with  Amalek  :  and  Moses,  Aaron  and  Hur  went  up  to  the 
top  of  the  hill.  And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Moses  held  up 
his  hand,  that  Israel  prevailed  ;  and  when  he  let  down  hi» 
hand  Amalek  prevailed.  But  Moses' hands  were  heavy: 
and  they  took  a  stone,  and  put  it  under  him,  and  he  sat 
thereon  :  and  Aaron  and  Hur  stayed  up  his  hands,  the  one 
on  the  one  side,  and  the  other  on  the  other  side  ;  and  his 
hands  were  steady  until  the  going  down  of  the  sun.  And 
Joshua  discomfited  Amalek  and  his  people  with  the  edge 
of  the  sword. 

LECTURE  XVI. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  209 

Exod.  xviii.  7,  12. — And  Moses  went  out  to  meet  his  father- 
in-law,  and  did  obeisance,  and  kissed  him  :  and  they  asked 
each  other  of  their  welfare;  and  they  came  into  the  tent. 
And  Moses  told  his  father-in-law  all  that  the  Lord  had 
done  imto  Pharaoh,  and  to  the  Egyptians,  for  Israel's  sake, 
and  all  the  travel  that  had  come  upon  them  by  the  way, 
and  how  the  Lord  delivered  them.  And  Jethro  rejoiced 
for  all  the  goodness  which  the  Lord  had  done  to  Israel  ; 
whom  he  had  delivered  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians. 
And  Jethro  said.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  who  hath  delivered 
you  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians,  and  out  of  the  hand 
of  Pharaoh  ;  who  hath  delivered  the  people  from  under  the 
hand  of  the  Egyptians.  Now  I  know  tliat  the  Lord  is 
greater  than  all  gods  ;  for  in  ihe  thing  wherein  ihcy  dealt. 
proudly  he  was  above  them.  And  Jethro,  Moses' father- 
in-law,  took  a  burnt-offering  and  sacrifices  for  God  :  and 
Aaron  came,  and  all  the  elders  of  Israel,  to  eat  bread  with 
Moses'  father-in-law,  before  God. 


VI  CONTENTS. 

LECTURE  XVII. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  222 

Exod.  xix.  16,  22. — And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  third  day  in 
the  morning,  that  there  were  thunders  and  lightnings,  and 
a  thick  cloud  upon  the  mount,  and  the  voice  of  the  trumpet 
exceeding  loud  ;  so  that  all  the  people  that  was  in  the  camp 
trembled.     And  Moses  brought  forth  the  people  out  of  the 
camp  to  meet  with  God,  and  they  stood  at  the  nether  part 
of  the  mount.  And  Mount  Sinai  was  altogether  on  a  smoke, 
because  the  Lord  descended  upon  it  in  fire  ;  and  the  smoke 
thereof  ascended  as  the  smoke  of  a  furnace,  and  the  whole 
mount  quaked    greately.       And  when  the  voice  of    the 
trumpet  sounded  long  and  waxed  louder  and  louder,  Moses 
spake,  and  God  answered  him  by  a  voice.     And  the  Lord 
came  down  upon  Mount  Sinai,  on  the  top  of  the  mount ; 
and  the  Lord  called  Moses  up  to  the  top  of  the  mount,  and  ^ 
Moses  went  up.     And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Go  down 
charge  the  people,  lest  they  break  through  unto  the  Lord 
to  gaze,   and  many  of  them  perish.     And   let  the  priests 
also,  which  come  near  to  the  Lord,  sanctify  themselves, 
lest  the  Lord  break  forth  upon  them. 

LECTURE  XVIIL 

HISTORY  OF    MOSES.  237 

Josh.  i.  17. — According  as  we  hearkened  unto  Moses  in  all 
things,  so  will  we  hearken  unto  thee  :  only  the  Lord  thy 
God  be  with  thee,  as  he  was  with  Moses. 

John  i.  17. — For  the  law  was  given  by  Moses,  but  grace  and 
truth  came  by  Jesus  Christ. 


Contents 


OF 

SECOND   COURSE 

OF 

LECTURES. 
LECTURE   r. 

INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE. 

PAGE    255 

2  Tiui.  i.  8,  10. — Be  not  therefore  asliamed  of  the  testimony 
of  our  Lord,  nor  of  me  his  prisoner,  but  be  thou  partaker  of 
the  afflictions  of  the  Gospel,  according  to  the  power  of  God  ; 
M'ho  hath  saved  us,  and  called  us  with  an  holy  calling, 
not  according  to  our  works,  but  according  to  his  own  pur- 
jxjse  and  grace,  which  was  given  us  in  Christ  Jesus,  before 
the  world  began  ;  but  is  now  made  manifest  by  the  ap- 
pearing of  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  who  hath  abolished 
death,  and  hath  brought  life  and  immortality  to  light 
through  the  gospel. 

LECTURE  n. 
HISTORY  OF  MOSES  26§ 

Exod.  xxiv.  15,  18. — And  Moses  went  up  into  the  mount,  and 
a  cloud  covered  the  mount.  And  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
abode  upon  Mount  Sinai,  and  the  cloud  covered  it  six 
days  :  and  the  seventh  day  he  called  unto  Moses  out  of 
the  midst  of  the  cloud.  And  the  sight  of  the  glory  of  the 
Lord  was  like  devouring  fire  on  the  top  of  the  mount,  in  ihe 
eyes  of  the  children  of  Israel.  And  Moses  went  into  the 
midst  of  the  cloud,  and  gat  him  up  into  the  mount :  and 
Moses  was  in  the  mount  forty  days  and  forty  nights. 

LECTURE  in. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES  285 

Exod.  xxxii.  1,  4. — And  when   the   people   saw   that  ?vIoses 

delayed  to  come  down  out  of  the  mount,  the  people  gathered 

themselves  together  unto  Aaron,  and  said  unto  him.   Up, 

make  us  gods  which  shall   go  before  us  ;  for  as    for  this 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

Moses,  the  man  that  brought  us  up  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt,  we  wot  not  what  is  become  of  him.  And  Aaron 
said  unto  them,  Break  off  the  golden  ear-rings,  which  arc 
in  the  ears  of  your  wives,  of  your  sons,  and  of  your 
daughters,  and  bring  them  unto  me.  And  all  the  people 
brake  off  the  golden  ear-rings  which  were  in  their  cars,  and 
brought  them  unto  Aaron.  And  he  received  them  at  their 
hand,  and  fashioned  it  with  a  graving  tool  after  he  had  made 
it  a  molten  calf  :  and  they  said,  These  be  thy  gods,  O  Is- 
rael, which  brought  thee  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. 

LECTURE  IV. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  298 

Exod.  xxxiii.  3,  1 1. — And  it  came  to  pass,  when  Moses  went 
out  unto  the  tabernacle,  that  all  the  people  rose  up,  and 
stood  every  man  at  his  tent-door,  and  looked  after  Moses, 
until  he  was  gone  into  the  tabernacle.  And  it  come  to  pass, 
as  Moses  entered  into  the  tabernacle,  the  cloudy  pillar  de- 
scended, and  stood  at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle,  and  the 
Lord  talked  with  Moses.  And  all  the  people  saw  the  cloudy 
pillar  stand  at  the  tabernacle-door:  and  all  the  people  rose  up 
and  worshipped,  every  man  in  his  tent-door.  And  the  Lord 
spake  unto  Moses  face  to  face,  as  a  man  speaketh  unto  his 
friend. 

LECTURE  V. 
HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  313 

Exod.  xxxiii.  18. — And  he  said,  I  beseech  thee,  shew  me 
thy  glory. 

LECTURE  VL 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  325 

Exod.  xxxiv.  29,  30. — And  it  came  to  pass  when  Moses  came 
down  from  Mount  Sinai,  (with  the  two  tables  of  testimony 
in  Moses'  hand,  when  he  came  down  from  the  mount)  that 
Moses  wist  not  that  the  skin  of  his  face  shone,  while  he  . 
talked  wiih  him.  And  when  Aaron  and  all  the  children  of 
Israel  saw  Moses,  behold,  the  skin  of  his  face  shone,  and 
I  hey  were  afraid  to  come  nigh  him. 

LECTURE  VIL 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  338 

Exod.  xxxix.  42,  43 — According  to  all  that  the  Lord  com- 
manded Moses,  so  the  children  of  Israel  made  all  the  work. 
And  Moses  did  look  upon  all  the  work,  and  behold,  they 
had  done  it  as  the  Lord  had  commanded,  even  so  had  they 
done  it :   and  Moses  blessed  them. 


COM  TENTS.  IX 

LECTURE  VIII. 

HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  34») 

Exod.  xl.  17,  34,  38 — And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  first  month, 
in  the  second  year,  on  the  first  day  of  the  month,  that  the 
tabernacle  was  reared  up.  Then  a  cloud  covered  the  tent 
of  the  congrepfation,  and  the  glory  of  the  Ijord  filled  the  ta- 
bernacle. And  Moses  was  not  able  to  enter  into  the  tent 
of  the  congregation,  because  the  cloud  aliode  thereon,  and 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled  the  tabernacle.  Anrl  when  the 
cloud  was  taken  up  from  over  the  tabernacle,  the  children  of 
Israel  went  onward  in  all  their  journies.  But  if  the  cloud 
Avere  not  taken  up,  then  they  journeyed  not,  till  the  day 
that  it  was  taken  up.  For  the  cloud  of  the  Lord  was  upon  the 
tabernacle  by  day,  and  fire  was  on  it  by  night,  in  the  sight 
of  all  the  house  of  Israel,  throughout  all  their  journies. 

LECTURE  IX. 

HISTORY  OF  AARON.  364 

Numb.  XX.  23,  29. —  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and 
Aaron  in  Mount  Hor,  by  the  coast  of  the  land  of  Edom, 
saying,  Aaron  shall  be  gathered  unto  his  people  :  for  he 
shall  not  enter  into  the  land  which  I  have  given  unto  the 
children  of  Israel,  because  ye  rebelled  against  ray  word  at 
the  water  of  Meribah.  Take  Aaron  and  Eleazar  his  son, 
^and  bring  them  up  unto  Mount  Hor  :  and  strip  Aaron  of 
his  garments,  and  put  them  upon  Eleazar  his  son  :  and 
Aaron  shall  be  gathered  unto  his  people,  and  shall  die 
there.  And  Moses  did  as  the  Lord  commanded  :  and 
they  went  up  into  Mount  Hor,  in  the  sight  of  all  the  congre- 
gation. And  Moses  stripped  Aaron  of  his  garmenti  and 
put  them  upon  Eleazar  his  son  :  and  Aaron  died  there  in 
the  top  of  the  mount-  And  Moses  and  Eleazar  came 
down  from  the  mount.  And  when  all  the  congregation  saw 
that  Aaron  was  dead,  they  mourned  for  Aaron  thirty  days, 
even  all  the  house  of  Israel. 

LECTURE  X. 

HISTORY  OF  AARON.  377 

Numb.  xx.  23,29. 

LECTURE  XI. 

HISTORY  OF  AARON.  392 

Numb.  xx.  23,  29. 


X  CONTENTS, 

LECTURE  XII. 

HISTORY  OF  AARON.  404 

Numb.  xx.  23,  29. 

LECTURE  XIIL 

HISTORY    OF    BALAAM.  4lS 

2  Pet.  ii.  15.  !<>. — These  are  Rone  astray,  following  the  way 
of  Balaam,  the  son  of  Bosor,  who  loved  the  wages  of  un- 
riohteousness.  But  was  rebuked  for  his  iniquity  ;  the 
dimib  ass,  speaking  with  man's  voice,  forbad  the  madness  of 
the  prophet. 

LECTURE   XIV. 

HISTORY  OF  BALAAM  435 

Numb.  xxii.  21. — And  Balaam  rose  up  in  tlie  morning  and 
saddled  his  ass,  and  wei)t  with  the  prince  of  Moab. 

LECTURE  XV. 

HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  446 

2  Pet.  ii.  15,1  6. — These  are  gone  astray,  following  the  way  of 
Balaam,  the  son  of  Bosor,  Vv-ho  loved  the  wages  of  unrigh- 
teousness. But  was  rebuked  for  his  iniquity  ;  the  dumb 
ass,  speaking  with  man's  voice,  forbad  the  madness  of  the 
Prophet. 

LECTURE    XVI. 

HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  460 

Nun  b.  xxiii.  10 Wlio  can  count  the  dust  of  Jacob,  and  the 

number  of  the  fourth  part  of  L  rael  ?  Let  me  die  the  death 
of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his  I 

LECTURE  XVII. 

HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  472 

Rt;v.  ii.  U — But  I  have  a  few  things  against  thee,  because 
thou  hast  here  them  that  hold  the  doctrine  of  Balaam, 
■who  taught  Balak  to  cast  a  stumbling-block  befoie  the 
children  of  Israel,  to  eat  things  sacrificed  unto  idols  and  to 
conamit  fornication. 


sae 


mxt'i  BiograpJ^. 


LECTURE  I. 

Then  came  to  him  certain  of  the  Sadducees  fzvhich  dejiy 
that  there  is  any  resurrection)  and  they  asked  hint, 
saying.  Master,  Moses  zvrote  unto  ns,  If  any  man'^s 
brother  die,  having  a  wife,  and  he  die  zvithout  chil- 
dren, that  his  brother  should  take  his  zvife,  and  raise 
lip  seed  unto  his  brother.  There  were  therefore  seven 
brethren  :  and  the  first  took  a  wife,  and  died  with- 
out children.  And  the  second  took  her  to  wife,  and 
he  died  childless.  And  the  third  took  her;  ajid 
in  like  manner  the  seven  also.  And  they  left  no  chil- 
dren, and  died.  Last  of  all  the  woman  died  also, 
Tlierefore  in  the  resurrection,  xvhose  ivife  of  them  is 
she  ?  for  seven  had  her  to  wife.  And  Jesus  answer- 
ing said  unto  them.  The  children  of  this  world  marry, 
and  are  given  in  marriage  :  but  they  zvhich  shall  be 
accounted  worthy  to  obtain  that  zvorld,  and  the  re- 
surrection from  the  dead,  neither  marry,  nor  are  given 
in  marriage.  Neither  can  they  die  any  more  ;  for 
they  are  equal  unto  the  angels,  and  are  the  children 
of  God,  being  the  children  of  the  resurrection.  Nozv 
that  the  dead  are  raised,  even  Moses  shezved  at  the 
bush,  zvhen  he  calleth  the  Lord  the  God  of  Abraham, 
and  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob.  For 
lie  is  nvt  a  God  of  the  dead,  but  of  the  living  :  for 
all  live  unto  him. ...I^uke  xx.  ^7-.38. 

ONE  of  the  most  obvious  and  natural  consolations 
of  reason,  under  the  loss   of  those   whom  we 
dearly  loved,  and  one  of  the  most  abundant  consola- 

VOL.  ir.  3 


10  INTIIODUCTOIIY   LECTUREo  iECT.  'I. 

tions  famished  by  religion,  is  the  belief  that  our  de- 
parted friends,  are,  at  their  death,  disposed  of  infinitely 
to  their  advantage.     We  weep  and  mourn  while  wc 
reflect  upon  the  deprivation  of  comfort  which  we  have 
sustained  ;  but  we  wipe  the  tears  of  sorrow  from  our 
eyes,  w  hen  we  consider  tliat  our  loss  is  their  unspeaka- 
ble gain.      "  Rachel  weeping  for  her  children,"  refuses 
to  he  comforted  so  long  as  she  thinks  "  they  arc  not ;" 
!)ut  her  soul  is  tranquilized  and  comforted  when  her 
eyes,   in  faith,   look  within  the  veil,   and  behold  them 
softly  and  securely  reposing  in  the  bosom  of  their  Father 
aiid  God.     It  is  an  humbling  and  mortifying  employ- 
r.ieut  to  visit  church-yards,  to  step  from  grave  to  grave, 
lo  recal  the  memory  while  we  trample  upon  the  ashes 
(-f  the  youFig,   the  beautiful,  the  wise  and  the  good i 
but  we  ftr.d  immediate  relief,  we  rise  into  joy,  we  tread 
among  the  slurs,  when  aided  by  religion,  we  transport 
ourselves  in   thought  to  those  blessed  regions  where 
ai!   the   faithful  live,    and  reign,  and   rejoice  ;  where 
"  tliey  that  be  wise  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  fir- 
mament, and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness  as 
the  stars  forever  and  ever,  Dan.  xii.  3.     Distance  is 
ihen  b\\  allowed  up  and  lost,  and  we  mingle  in  the  noble 
employments  and  pure  delights  of  the  blessed  immor- 
tals who  encircle  the  throne  of  God. 

It  is  astonishing  to  think,  that  there  should  have 
been  men  disposed  willingly  to  deprive  themselves  of 
this  glorious  source  of  comfort ;  men  ready  to  resign 
the  high  prerogative  of  their  birthright,  and  by  a  spe- 
cies (jf  humility  strange  and  unnatural,  spontaneously 
degrading  themselves  to  the  level  of  the  brutes  that  pe- 
rish. And  yet  there  have  been  in  truth  such  men  in 
every  age.  But  it  is  no  wonder  to  find  those  who  sa- 
tisfy themselves  with  the  pursuits  and  enjoyments  of  a 
mere  beastly  nature  while  they  live,  contented  to  lie 
down  with  the  beasts  in  death,  to  rise  no  more.  They 
first  make  it  their  interest  that  there  should  be  no  here- 


LECT:  I.  INTllODlfCTOBY   LECTURE.  fj 

after,  nnd  then  they  fondly  persuade  themselves  that' 
there  shall  be  none. 

Error  of  every  kind,  both  in  faith  and  morals,  pre- 
vailed in  the  extreme,  at  the  period  when  and  in  the 
country  where  the  Saviour  of  the  world  appeared  for 
our  redemption.  The  nation  of  the  Jews  was  divided^ 
in  respect  of  moral  and  religious  sentiment,  into  two 
great  sects  or  parties,  who  both  pretended  to  found 
their  opinions  upon  the  authority  of  the  inspired  books, 
which  were  held  in  universal  estimation  among  them  ; 
and  particularly  the  writings  of  Moses.  But  thev 
drew  conclusions  directly  opposite  from  the  same  facts 
and  doctrines ;  and  both  deviated,  in  the  grossest 
manner,  from  the  spirit  and  design  of  that  precious 
record  which  they  both  affected  to  hold  in  the  highest 
veneration. 

The  Pharisees,  earnestly  contending  for  the  strict 
observance  of  the  law,  confined  their  attention  to  its 
minuter  and  less  important  objects,  and  paid  "  the 
tithe  of  mint  and  anise  and  cummin,"  but  omitted 
*'  the  weightier  matters  of  the  law,  judgment,  mercy 
and  faith  :"  and,  raising  oral  tradition  to  the  rank  and 
dignity  of  scripture,  found  a  pretence  for  dispensing 
with  the  plainest  and  most  essential  obligations  of  mo- 
rality, when  these  contradicted  their  interests  and 
opinions.  Heinously  offended  at  the  neglect  of  wash- 
ing hands  previous  to  eating,  they  were  v\  icked  enough 
to  establish,  by  a  law  of  their  own,  neglect  of,  unkind- 
ness  and  disobedience  to  parents  ;  thus,  according  to 
the  just  censure  which  our  Lord  passed  upon  them, 
"  straining  out  a  gnat,  and  swallowing  a  camel." 

The  Sadducees,  on  the  other  hand,  the  strong  spirits 
of  the  age,  disdaining  the  restraints  imposed  on  man- 
kind by  a  written  law,  thought  fit  to  become  a  law 
unto  themselves.  They  left  the  austerities  of  a  strict 
religion  and  morality  to  vulgar  minds  ;  and,  that  they 
might  procure  peace  to  themselves  in  the  cnjoyment- 
of  those  sinful  pleasures  to  whicli  they  were  ..ddictetlj 


12  INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.  LECT.  I. 

they  denied  the  existence  of  spirit,  the  immortality  of 
the  soul,  and  a  future  state  of  retribution.  They  al- 
ledged  that  the  law  was  silent  on  those  points,  and  that 
this  silence  was  a  sufficient  reason  for  rejecting  the  be- 
lief of  them.  They  went  farther,  and  contended,  that 
were  such  doctrines  contained  in  the  law,  they  ought 
not  to  be  admitted,  because  they  implied  a  contradic- 
tion, or  at  least  involved  such  a  number  of  difficulties 
as  it  was  impossible  satisfactorily  to  solve.  The  chief 
of  those  difficulties  they  propose  to  our  blessed  Savi- 
our in  the  passage  which  I  have  read  ;  and  they  do 
this,  not  in  the  spirit  of  docility  and  diffidence,  to  have 
it  removed,  but  in  the  pride  of  their  hearts,  vainly 
taking  for  granted  that  it  was  insurmountable. 

My  principal  intention  in  leading  your  tlioughts  to 
this  subject  at  this  time,  is  the  occasion  which  it  af- 
forded to  the  great  Teacher  who  came  from  Go.l,  of 
discoursing  on  a  theme  nearly  conrrct'-d  with  the  de- 
sign of  these  Lectures  ;  and  of  disclosing  to  us  sun- 
dry important  particulars,  respecting  the  venerable 
men  whose  lives  we  hav^e  been  studying,  and  those 
which  we  are  still  to  examine ;  and  respecting-  that 
world  in  which  we,  together  with  them,  have  a  con- 
cern so  deeply,  because  eternally,  interesting  To 
these  we  shall  be  led  by  making  a  few  cursory  remarks 
on  the  proceeding  conversation  which  uook  place  be- 
tween Christ  and  the  Sudducees.  And  this  shall  serve 
as  an  Introduction  to  the  farther  continuation  of  a 
Course  of  Lectures  on  the  history  of  the  memorable 
persons  and  events  presented  to  us  in  the  holy  scrip- 
tures of  both  the  Old  and  New  Testaments. 

The  Sudducees  insidiously  begin  their  attack  by 
professing  the  highest  respect  for  the  authority  of  Mo- 
ses and  of  his  writings  :  "  Master,  Moses  wrote  unto 
us."  The  most  pernicious  designs,  the  most  malevo- 
lent purposes, are  frequently  found  to  clothe  themselves 
in  smiles  ;  often  while  mischief  lies  brooding  in  men*s 
kearts,  "  their  words  are  smoother  than  oil."     The 


LECT.  I.,  INTRODUCTORy   LECTURE.  13 

father  of  lies  himself  can  have  recourse  to  truth  If  it 
be  likely  to  serve  his  turn  ;  and  the  enemy  of  all  good- 
ness will  condescend  to  quote  that  scripture  whicli  he 
hates,  if  it  can  help  him  to  an  argument  for  the  occa- 
sion. With  this  affcctfd  deference  for  Moses,  the  Sad- 
ducees  are  aiming  at  the  total  subversion  of  every  mo- 
ral and  religious  principle,  by  weakening  one  of  the 
strongest  motives  to  virtue,  and  undermining  the  surest 
foundation  of  hope  and  joy  to  man.  They  alledge, 
that  obedience  to  the  law  might  eventually  lead  to 
much  confusion  and  disorder ;  and  they  suppose  a 
situation,  for  none  such  ever  existed,  in  which  com- 
pliance with  the  revealed  will  of  God  in  this  world 
would  infallibly  lead  to  discord  and  distress  in  that 
ivhich  is  to  come.  In  this  we  have  an  examiDleofa 
very  common  case  ;  that  of  men  straining  their  eyes 
to  contemplate  objects  at  a  great  distance,  or  totally 
out  of  sight,  and  wilfully  neglecting  or  overlooking 
those  which  are  immediately  before  them  :  troubling 
themselves  about  effects  and  consequences  of  which 
they  are  ignorant,  and  over  which  they  hav5  no  power, 
while  they  are  regardless  of  obvious  truth,  and  com- 
manded duty,  though  these  are  their  immediate  busi- 
ness  and  concern.  The  Sadducees  in  order  to  cloak 
their  licentiousness  and  infidelity,  affect  solicitude 
about  the  regularity  and  peace  of  a  future  state,  which 
in  words  they  denied,  if  they  did  not  from  the  heart 
disbelieve. 

I  make  but  one  remark  rriore  before  I  proceed  to  our 
Lord's  reply.  Eagerness  and  anxiety  to  bring  forward 
and  to  establish  an  opinion,  betray  an  inward  doubt  or 
disbelief  of  it.  Truth  is  not  ever  proclaiming  itself 
from  the  house-tops,  is  not  forward  to  obtrude  itself 
upon  every  occasion,  but  is  satisfied  with  maintaining 
and  defending  itself  when  assaulted  ;  but  falsehood  is 
eternally  striving  to  conceal  or  strengthen  its  conscious 
weakness  by  a  parade  of  words,  and  a  shew  of  reason. 
The  zeal  of  the  Sadducees  to  explode  and  run  down 


14  INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.       LECT,  I. 

the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection,  plainly  betrays  a  se- 
cret dread  and  belief  of  it. 

Our  Lord,  in  his  answer,  points  out  directly  the 
source  of  all  error  and  infidelity,  *'  ye  do  err,  not 
knowing  the  scriptures,  ana  tlie  power  of  God."  Not 
knowing  the  scriptures,  ye  suppose  a  doctrine  is  not  in 
them,  because  ye  have  not  found  it  there  :  because  ye 
have  wihlilly  shut  your  own  eyes,  ye  vainly  imagine 
there  is  no  light  in  the  sun  ;  and  take  upon  you  to  af- 
firm there  is  none.  Not  knowing  the  power  of  God, 
you  call  that  impossible  which  you  cannot  do,  deem 
that  absurd  which  you  do  not  comprehend,  and  pro- 
nounce that  false  which  you  wish  to  be  so.  The  whole 
force  of  the  objection  to  the  truth  of  the  resurrection, 
goes  upon  the  supposition,  that  the  future  world  is  to 
be  exactly  constituted  as  the  present ;  that  the  relations 
and  distinctions  which  subsist  among  men  upon  earth, 
are  to  subsist  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  But  the  sup- 
position is  founded  m  ignorance  and  falsehood ;  and, 
the  moment  it  is  denied,  the  mighty  argument  built 
upon  it  falls  to  the  ground.  "  In  the  resurrection," 
says  Christ,  "  they  neither  marry,  nor  are  given  in 
marriage,  but  are  as' the  angels  of  God  in  heaven." 

In  these  words,  the  eondition  of  men  in  the  \vorld 
to  come,  is  described,  first,  negatively,  "  they  neither 
marry,  nor  are  given  in  marriage."  The  power  whicl) 
created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  all  the  host  of 
them,  might  undoubtedly,  had  it  pleased  him,  have 
created  the  whole  human  race  at  once,  as  easily  as  he 
formed  the  first  of  men,  Adam,  and  as  easily  as  he 
rears  up  one  generation  of  men  after  another,  in  the 
course  of  providence.  But,  thinking  it  meet  to  peo- 
ple tlie  earth  by  multiplying  mankind  gradually  upon 
it,  difference  of  sex  and  the  institution  of  marriage 
were  the  means  wJiich  he  was  pleased  to  employ.  In 
the  resurrection,  the  number  of  the  redeemed  being 
complete  at  once,  that  difference,  and  that  institution, 
Ixnng:  unnecessarv,  shall  be  do":ie  a^^av.     Our  Saviour 


JLECT.  I.  INTRODUCTORY   LECTURL.  13 

adds  *' neither  can  they  die  anymore."  Death,  too, 
enters  into  the  plan  of  Providence  for  the  government 
of  this  worhl.  Men  must  be  removed,  to  make  rocnn 
for  men.  But  because  this  sphere  is  narrow  and  con- 
tracted, and  unable  to  contain  and  support  the  increas- 
inf  multitudes  of  many  generations,  is  the  Lord's  hand 
shortened,  that  he  cannot  expand  a  more  spacious  fir- 
mament, and  compact  a  more  spacious  globe,  to  con- 
tain, at  once,  the  countless  nations  of  them  that  are 
saved  '?  O  how  greatly  do  men  err  ;  not  knowing  the 
power  of  God  !  Death  is  no  part  of  the  plan  of  Provi- 
dence for  the  government  of  that  \vorId  of  bliss.  In  our 
Father's  house  above  there  are  many  mansions  ;  there 
is  bread  enough,  and  to  spare ;  there  is  room  for  all, 
provision  for  all :  the  father  need  not  to  die,  to  give 
space  to  the  son,  nor  the  mother  to  spare,  that  the  child 
may  have  enough.  For  they  are  "as  the  angels  of  God," 
says  our  Lord,  accordingto  Matthew,  "equal  to  the  an- 
gels," says  our  evangelist,  "and  arc  children  of  God." 

This  describes  their  hj-.ppiness  positively.  Men  on 
earth  "  see  in  a  glass  darkly  ;  know  in  part,  prophecy 
in  part,"  are  encompassed  with  infirmity;  but  the 
"  angels  in  heaven"  excel  in  strength,  stand  before 
the  throne  of  God,  serve  him  day  and  night  in  his 
temple,  without  wearying,  see  face  to  face,  know  as 
they  are  known."  Their  number  is  completed,  their 
intercourse  is  pure  und  perfect,  without  the  means  of 
increase  and  union  which  exist  here  below. 

Having  thus  reproved  their  ignorance  and  presump- 
tion, respecting  the  "  power  of  God,"  our  Lord  pro- 
ceeds to  expose  their  ignorance  respecting  "  the  scrip- 
tures," and  produces  a  passage  from  Moses,  in  whom 
they  trusted,  which  they  had  hitherto  overlooked  or 
misunderstood,  wherein  the  doctrine  in  dispute  v.-as 
clearly  laid  down ;  and  which  we  had  principally  in 
view  in  leading  your  attention  to  this  passage  on  the 
present  occasion. 

The  passage  quoted,  is  that  noted  declaration  of 


16  INTROEUCtORY   LECTURE.  LECT.  l". 

God  to  Moses,  from  the  midst  of  the  burning  bush, 
"  I  am  the  God  of  thy  father,  the  God  of  Abraham, 
the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob,"  Exod.  iii. 
6.  That  God  should  liave  condescended  to  hold  this 
kinguage  concerning  Enoch,  "  who  was  translated 
that  he  should  not  see  death,"  had  been  less  wonder- 
ful ;  for  that  holy  man,  who  walked  with  God  upon 
earth,  was  exalted  immediately  to  a  more  intimate 
union  v.  ith  God  in  heaven.  But  to  speak  thus  of  men 
who  v\ere  long  ago  mouldered  into  dust,  of  whom 
nothing  remained  among  men  but  their  names,  con- 
veys an  idea  of  human  existence,  before  which  the 
life  of  a  Methuselah  dwindles  into  nothing,  an  idea 
which  swallows  up  mortality,  and  gives  a  dignity  and 
a  duration  to  man  that  bids  defiance  to  the  grave. 
That  God  should  say  to  Abraham,  while  he  lived,  *'  I 
am  thy  shield,  and  thy  exceeding  great  reward,"  Gen. 

XV.  1 was  a  miracle  of  grace  and  condescension; 

but  to  speak  thus,  more  than  three  centuries  after  he 
had  been  consigned  to  the  tomb,  "  I  am  the  God  of 
Abraham,"  this  exhibits  a  relation  between  God  and 
the  faithful,  which  perfectly  reconciles  the  mind  to  the 
thoughts  of  dissolution.  Indeed  it  is  imposibie  to 
conceive  any  thing  more  elevating,  any  thing  more 
tranquiiizing  to  the  soul,  than  the  view  of  future  bliss 
with  which  the  text  presents  us.  And  this  tranquility 
and  elevation  are  greatly  heightened  by  the  considera- 
tion, that  Jehovah,  from  the  midst  of  flaming  fire, 
xuider  the  Old  'J'estament  dispensation,  and  Jehovah 
in  the  person  of  the  great  Redeemer,  under  the  New, 
taught  the  same  glorious  truth  to  the  world.  And 
what  is  it?  "  i  am  the  God  oi"  Abraham,  and  the  God 
of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob." 

When  God  was  pleased  to  express  his  favorable  re- 
gard to  Abraham  upon  earth,  what  did  it  amount  to? 
He  led  him  through  a  particular  district  of  land,  in  the 
length  and  the  breadth  of  it,  and  said  *'  I  will  give  it 
thee."     But  Abraham  now  expatiates  through  a  more 


LECT.  I,  INTRODUCTOr.  Y    LECTURE.  Vf 

ample  rcp;ion,  and  contcmpl.'.tcs  a  fairer  inheritance, 
an  inheritance  his  ow  n,  not  in  hope,  but  in  possession. 
Abraham,  thoiii^li  following  the  leading  of  Divine 
Providence,  saw  the  Redeemer's  day  only  afar  off: 
but,  in  virtue  of  his  relation  to  Gcd,  he  has  now  be- 
held the  dawniigof  the  morning  cxpandtd  into  the 
pure  light  of  the  perfect  day.  Ke  once  felt  the  events 
which  affected  his  family,  with  the  emotion  natural  to 
a  man  ;  he  has  since  beheld  them  extending  their  in- 
fluence to  nations  uhich  he  thought  not  of;  and  he 
now  looks  forward  in  holy  rapture,  to  that  period  when 
he,  and  his  Isaac,  and  an  earthly  Canaan,  and  every 
thing  of  a  temporal  and  tn>nsitory  nature,  shall  bring 
their  glcry  and  their  honor,  and  lay  all  at  the  feet  of 
"  Him,  w  ho  sitttth  upon  the  throne,  and  before  the 
Lamb." 

From  Abraham  rve  are  removed  to  a  distance  of 
time  and  place,  in  which  thought  is  lost,  and  we  seem 
to  ha^■e  no  more  interest  in  him  than  if  he  had  never 
existed.  But  the  doctrine  of  the  text  brings  us  so 
close  to  him,  that  we  recognise  the  friend  of  God,  in 
the  midst  of  myriads  of  saints  in  glory  ;  we  converse 
with  him,  and  continue  to  be  instructed  by  him. 

The  dust  of  Abraham  sleeps  unnoticed  and  forgotten 
in  the  cave  of  Machpelah  ;  but  lift  up  thine  e}  es,  and 
behold  Abraham  on  high,  and  Lazarus  in  his  bosom  ; 
his  spirit  united  to  God  "  the  Father  of  spirits,"  and 
to  all  "  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect."  "  And 
even  that  dust"  also  "rests  in  hope:"  It  shall  not 
always  be  left  in  the  place  of  the  dead;  it  shall  not 
remain  forever  a  prey  to  corruption.  Abraham  pur- 
chased a  tomb,  and  buried  his  Sarah  out  of  his  sight; 
but  he  has  overtaken,  regained  her,  in  the  regions  of 
eternal  day,  w  here  virtuous  and  believing  friends  meet, 
never  more  to  be  disjohied.  Abraham  received  his 
Isaac  from  the  wonder-w  orking  hand  of  Heaven,  w  hen 
nature  was  dead  to  hope  ;  at  the  command  of  God  he 
cheerfully  surrendered  him  again,  and  devoted  hira 

v^oi.  ir.  c 


m  INTRODUCTORY  lECTrRE.      tECT.  t, 

upon  the  altar  :  again  he  receives  him  to  newness  of 
]ife,  and  that  darling  son  lives  to  put  his  hand  upon 
his  eyes.     But  they  were  not  long  disunited  ;  the  son- 
has  overtaken  the  parents  ;  they  rejoice  in  God,  and 
in  one  another ;   they  are  the  children  and  heirs  of  the 
resuirection  ;  "they  areas theangelsof  God inheaven." 
"  I  am  the  God  of  Isaac."     This  Isaac,  the  heir  of 
Abraham's  possessions,  of  his  faith,  and  of  his  virtues^ 
was,  on  earth,   united  to  the  God  of  the  spirits  of  all 
flesh,  by   many   tender  and  important  relations :    by 
piety,  by  filial  confidence,  by  goodness,   by  patience 
and  submission,  on   his  part ;   by  election,  by  special 
favor,  by  bigness  of  destination,  on  the  part  of  his  hea- 
venly Father.     Yet  these  dibtinguished  advantages  ex- 
empted him  not  from  the  stroke  of  affliction.      Many 
vears  did  this  heir  of  the  promises,  this  chosen  seed, 
"  in  w  liom  all  the  flimilies  of  the  earth  should  be  bless- 
ed," many  years  did  he  go  childless.     Early  in  life 
'ivas  he  visited  w  ith  the  loss  of  sight,  and  thereby  ex- 
posed to  much  mortification  and  dejection  of  spirit. 
Children  are  at  length  given  him,  and  they  prove  the 
torment  of  his  life  ;  they  excite  a  war  betwixt  nature 
and  grace  in  his  own  breast;   discord  and  jealousy  arm 
them  against  each  other ;  he  is  in  danger  of  "  losing 
them  both  in  one  day."     llie  one  must  be  banished 
from  his  father's  liouse,  the  other  mingles  with  idola- 
tors.     Behold  a  wretched,   blind  old  man,  a  prey  to 
"  grief  of  heart."     But  these  things,    on  the  other 
hand,  dissolved  not,  interrupted  not  his  covenant  rela- 
tion to  God  :  they  served  but  to  cement  and  strengthen 
the  divine  friendship  :  and  death  which,  to  human  ap- 
i[)rehension,    separates   every  connexion,  and  indeed 
terrs  asunder  every  mortal  tie,  only  brought  him  into 
a  clearer  light,  and  to  intercourse  and  intimacy,  which 
can  never  expire. 

"  1  am  the  God  of  Jacob."  In  all  the  wanderings, 
in  all  tht  dangers,  in  all  the  distresses  of  this  patriarch  ; 
in  all  his  successes,  all  his  acquisitions,  all  his  joy^, 


•i.ECT.  I.  IXTRODUCTORV  LECTURE.  :il/ 

we  discover  the  relation  of  God  to  liim,  expressed  in 
these  words  ;  and  we  behold  the  presence  of  God  w  ith 
him  whithersoever  he  went,  constantly  relieving  the 
wretchedness  of  one  state  ;  dignifying  and  supporting 
the  felicity  of  the  other.  This  gave  him  security  from 
the  violence  of  an  incensed  brother ;  tliis  cheered  the 
solitude  of  Luz,  and  turned  it  into  a  Bethel ;  by  this 
the  slumbers  of  a  head  reposed  on  a  pillar  of  stone  were 
made  refreshing  and  instructive ;  this  repressed  and 
overbalanced  the  rapacity  of  Laban  ;  this  supported 
and  sanctified  the  loss  of  Joseph  ;  this  sweetened  the 
vdcscent  into  Egypt,  and  dissipated  the  gloom  of  death  ; 
by  this,  though  dead,  he  exists,  though  silent  he  speak- 
cth,  "  absent  from  the  body  he  is  present  with  the 
■Xord  ;*'  the  moment  of  his  departure  is  on  the  wing  to 
overtake  that  of  his  redemption  from  the  power  of  tji^ 
grave.  Before  God,  the  distance  siirinks  into  nothing. 
The  word,  the  one  little  word,  I  AM,  unites  the  era  of 
nature's  birth  with  that  of  its  dissolution,  it  joins  eter- 
nity to  eternity,  "  and  swallows  up  death  in  victon'." 
The  same  gracious  declaration  applies,  with  equal 
truth  and  justice,  to  every  son  and  daughter  "  of  faith- 
ful Abraham,"  to  every  "  Israelite  indeed."  We 
speak  of  departed  friends  in  the  past  time,  u'e  "  can- 
not but  remember  such  things  zvere  ;  and  zvere  most 
dear  to  us  ;"  but  it  is  the  glorious  prerogative  of  Jeho- 
vah to  employ  eternally  the  present  in  describing  his 
own  essence,  and  his  covenant  relation  to  his  people : 
*'  I  AM  THAT  I  AM."  ''  I  AM  the  God  of  thy 
father,"  of  thy  buried,  thy  lamented  brother,  fiiend, 
lover,  child.  And  to  us  also  is  the  word  of  this  con- 
solation sent,  "  Fear  not,  for  I  avi  with  thee,  be  not 
dismayed,  I  mn  thy  God."  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord, 
that  created  thee,  O  Jacob,  and  he  that  formed  thee, 
O  Israel ;  Fear  not :  for  I  have  redeemed  thee,  I  have 
called  thee  by  name,  thou  art  mine.  When  thou  pass- 
est  through  tiie  vi^aters,  I  will  be  with  thee,  and  through 
the  rivers,   they  shall  not  overflow  thee:   when  thou 


20  INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.  LECT.  t. 

"walkest  through  the  fire  thou  shalt  not  be  burnt ;  nei- 
ther shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee.  For  I  am  the 
Lord  thy  God,  the  Holy  one  of  Krael,  thy  Saviour." 
Beiifeving  and  resting  upon  this  sure  foundation,  the 
christian  triumphs  in  the  prospect  of  "  departing  and 
being  with  Christ ;"  he  smiles  at  the  threatening  looks 
of  the  king  of  terrors,  exults  and  shigs  *'  with  the 
sweet  singer  of  Israel,"  "  ye.i,  thougli  I  walk  through 
the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  1  will  fear  no  evil : 
for  thou  art  widi  with  me,  thy  rod,  and  thy  staff,  they 
comfort  Tue.  Surely  goodness  and  mercy  shall  follow 
me  all  the  days  of  my  life  :  and  I  will  dwell  in  the 
house  of  the  Lord  forever,""  Psalm  xxiii.  4,  6,  and 
triumphs  with  the  enraptured  apostle  of  the  Gentiles, 
*'  O  deiith,  where  is  thy  sting  ;  O  grave,  where  is  thy 
victory  ?  Th-inks  be  to  God  who  giveth  us  the  victory 
through  our  L')rd  Jesus  Christ,"  1  Cor.  xv.  15,  57. 

It  is  a  traii.,porting  reflection,  that  the  fond  wishes 
and  desires  of  the  human  heart  are  W'arranted,  cncour- 
aged  and  supported  by  the  revelation  of  Gr,d  :  that  the 
life  and  immortality  Vvhich  we  naturally  pant  after,  are 
brought  to  light  by  the  gospel.  It  is  pleasant  to  find 
wise  and  good  men,  guided  only  by  the  light  of  rea- 
son, and  the  honest  propensities  of  nature,  cherishing 
that  very  belief,  cleaving  to  that  very  hope,  which  the 
text  inspires.  Cicero,  in  his  beautiful  treatise  on  old  age, 
while  he  relates  the  sentiments  of  others,  sweetly  de- 
livers his  own  on  this  subject.  The  eider  Cyrus  ac- 
cording to  Xenophon,  thus  addressed  his  sons  before 
his  death  :  "  Do  not  imagine,  O  my  dear  children,  that 
when  I  leave  you,  I  cease  to  exist.  For  even  while  I 
was  yet  with  you,  my  spirit  you  could  not  discern  ; 
but  that  it  animated  this  body  you  were  fully  assured 
by  the  actions  which  I  performed.  Be  assured  it  will 
continue  the  same,  thomrh  still  vou  see  it  not.  The 
glory  of  illustrious  men  would  sink  w'ith  them  into  the 
grave,  were  not  their  surviving  spirits  capable  of  exer- 
tion, and  concerned  to  rescue  their  names  from  oblivion. 


•  XECT.  I.      INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.         21 

I  can  never  sufi'er  myself  to  be  persuaded,  that  the 
man  lives  only  while  he  is  in  tlie  body,  and  dies  when 
it  is  dissolved  ;  or  that  the  soul  loses  all  intellijjence 
on  being  separated  iVom  an  uiiintelliiijent  lump  of  e'.ay  ; 
but  rather  that,  on  beinj^  liberated  from  all  niixturc 
witli  body,  pure  and  entire,  it  enters  upon  its  true 
intellectual  existence.  At  death,  any  one  may  disco- 
ver what  becomes  of  the  material  part  of  our  frame  : 
all  sinks  into  that  from  which  it  arose,  every  thini^  is 
resolved  into  its  first  principle  ;  the  soul  alone  is  ap- 
parent  neither  while  it  is  with  us,  nor  when  it  departs. 
What  so  much  rt?sembles  death  as  sleep?  Now  the 
powers  of  the  mind,  in  sleep,  loudly  proclaim  their 
own  divinity  ;  free  and  unfettered,  the  soul  plunges 
into  futurity,  ascends  its  native  sky.  Hence  \a  e  may 
conclude  how  enlarged  those  powers  will  be,  when  un- 
depressed, unrestrained  by  the  chains  of  flesh.  Since 
these  things  are  so,  consider  and  reverence  me  as  a 
tutelary  deity.  But,  granting  that  the  mind  were  to 
expire  with  the  body,  nevertheless,  out  of  reverence  to 
the  immortal  gods,  who  support  and  direct  this  fair 
fabric  of  nature,  piously,  aflfectionately  cherish  the 
memory  of  your  affectionate  father."  The  great  Ro- 
man orator  puts  these  words  into  the  mouth  of  Cato, 
in  addressing  his  young  friends  Scipio  and  Lasiius. 
"  Those  excellent  men,  your  fathers,  who  were  so  dear 
to  me  in  life,  I  consider  as  still  alive  ;  and  indeed,  as 
now  enjoying  a  state  of  being  which  alone  deserves  to 
be  dignified  with  the  name  of  life.  For  as  long  as  we 
are  shut  up  in  this  dungeon  of  sense,  we  have  to  toil 
through  the  painful  and  necessary  drudgery  of  life,  and 
to  accomplish  the  laborious  task  of  an  hireling.  The 
celestial  spirit  is,  as  it  were,  depressed,  degraded  from 
its  native  seat,  and  plunged  into  the  mire  of  this  world, 
a  state  repugnant  to  its  divine  nature  and  eternal  dura- 
tion." And  again,  *'  Nobody  shall  ever  persuade  me, 
Scipio,  that  your  fither  Paullus,  and  your  two  grand- 
fathers, Paullus  and  Africanus,  and  many  other  emi- 


5>2  INTRODUCTORY  LECTUllE.  LECT.  I. 

r.ent  men  whom  it  is  unnecessary  to  mention,  would 
have  attempted  and  acheived  so  many  splendid  actions, 
>vhich  were  to  extend  their  influence  to  posterity,  had 
they  not  clearly  discerned  that  they  had  an  interest  in, 
snd  a  connexion  with  the  ag-es  of  futurity,  and  with, 
generations  yet  unborn.  Can  you  imagine,  that  I  may 
talk  a  little  of  myself,  after  the  manner  of  old  men, 
can  you  imagine,  that  I  would  have  submitted  to  so 
ni:my  painful  toils,  by  night  and  by  day,  in  the  forum, 
in.  the  senate,  in  the  field,  had  I  apprehended  that  my 
existence,  and  my  reputation,  were  to  terminate  with 
my  life  ?  Were  this  the  case,  would  it  not  have  been 
much  better  to  dose  away  in  indolence  an  insignificant 
xind  useless  life  ?  But,  1  do  not  know  how,  the  soul, 
incessantly  exerting  its  native  vigor,  still  sprung  eagerly 
forward  into  ages  yet  to  come,  and  seized  them  as  its 
own. 

*'  I  feel  myself  transported  with  delight  at  the 
thought  of  again  seeing  and  joining  your  fathers, 
whom  on  earth  I  highly  respected  and  dearly  loved ; 
and,  borne  on  the  wings  of  hope  and  desire,  1  am 
speeding  my  flight  to  mingle  in  the  honored  society. 
Slot  of  those  only  whom  on  earth  I  knew,  and  with 
whom  1  have  conversed  ;  but  of  those  also  of  whom 
I  have  heard  and  read,  and  the  history  of  whose  lives 
1  myself  I  have  written,  for  the  instruction  of  mankind. 
I  have  the  consolation  of  reflecting,  that  I  have  not 
lived  wholly  in  vain  :  and  I  quit  my  station  in  life 
^vithout  regret,  as  the  Avay-faring  man,  whose  face  is 
towards  home,  bids  farewell  to  the  inn  where  he  had 
stopped  for  a  little  refreshment  on  his  way.  O  glori- 
ous day,  when  I  shall  be  admitted  into  the  divine  as- 
sembly of  the  wise  and  good !  When  I  shall  make  an 
eternal  escape  from  this  sink  of  corruption,  and  the 
din  of  folly  !  When  amidst  the  happy  throng  of  the 
immortals,  I  shall  find  thee  also  my  son,  my  Cato, 
best,  most  amiable  of  men  !  On  thy  ashes,  I  bestow- 
ed tlie  honors  of  the  tomb.     Ah  !  wh\'  did  not  imne 


1.ECT.    I.  JNTRODUCTORV    LUCfL/KJf.  ftS 

tather  receive  liicm  fioni  thy  hand  !  But  your  spirit,  I 
know  it,  h;is  iitvcr  lorsiiken  nic ;  but  cabtini^  b;.'ck 
many  a  lonpjing,  lingering  look  to  your  afflicted  ratl\er, 
lias  removed  to  that  iei2;ion  of  puiity  and  peace  whither 
you  were  confident  I  bhould  sliortly  follow  you.  And  I 
feci,  1  feel  our  separation  cannot  be  of  loui^-  continuance. 

'*  If,  indulging-  mvi-clf  in  this  fond  liope,  my  3oun£^ 
friends,  I  am  under  the  power  of  delusion,  it  is  a  sweet, 
it  is  an  innocent  delusion.  I  will  hold  it  fast  and  never 
let  it  go,  w  hile  I  live.  I  despise  the  sneer  of  the  whit- 
ling,  who  would  attempt  to  laugh  me  out  of  my  im- 
mortality. Suppose  him  in  the  right,  and  myself  under 
a  mistake,  he  shall  not  have  the  power  to  insult  me,  nor 
shall  I  have  the  mortification  of  feeling  his  scorn,  when 
we  are  both  gone  to  the  land  of  everlasting  forgetful- 
ness." 

How  pleasing  the  thought,  my  dear  christian  friends, 
I  again  repeat  it,  how  pleasing  the  thought,  that  the 
honest  propensities  of  nature,  the  fairest  conclusions 
of  unassisted  reason,  and  the  most  ardent  breathings 
of  truth  and  virtue,  are  here  in  unison  with  the  clearest 
and  most  explicit  declarations  of  the  holy  scriptures! 

But  the  sacred  Dove  soars  into  a  region  which  na- 
ture and  reason  never  could  have  explored.  Revelation, 
to  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  has  added  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  body.  And,  "  wherefore  should  it  be 
thought  a  thing  incredible  that  God  should  raise  the 
dead?"  The  Spirit  says  to  "  these  dry  bones.  Live." 
"  We  believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again."  What 
a  sure  ground  of  hope,  that  '*  them  also  who  sleep  in 
Jesus,  God  will  biing  with  him  !"  Delightful  reflec- 
tion !  Who  would  be  so  unjust  to  God,  and  so  unkind 
to  himself,  as  to  part  with  it?  How  it  smooths  the 
rugged  path  of  life,  how  it  tempers  the  bitterness  of 
affliction,  how  it  dissipates  the  horrors  of  the  grave  ! 
One  child  sleeps  in  the  dust,  the  diameter  of  the  globe 
separates  me  from  another,  but  the  word  of  life,  "  1 
AM  the  God  of  thy  seed,"  rescues  that  one  from  cor- 


I? 


Z4  INTRODUCTORY   LECTURE.  LECT.  I. 

niption,  and  puts  the  other  hi  my  embrace.  Time 
dwindles  into  a  point,  the  earth  melts  away,  *'  the 
trumpet  sounds,"  '*  the  dead  arise  incorruptible." 
Behold  all  things  are  made  new  !  "  New  heavens  and 
a  new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth righteousness."  "  Arise, 
let  us  go  hence,"  and  "  sit  down  with  Abraham,  Isaac, 
and  Jacob,  in  the  kingdom  of  God." 


4t  ■  •-    ■'■•'  ,i 


HISTORY  OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  II. 

By  faith  Moses  ^  when  he  was  come  to  years  ^  refused  to 
be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daughter;  choosing 
rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God  than 
/o  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season ;  esteeming 
the  reproach  of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the  trea- 
sures of  Egypt :  for  he  had  respect  unto  the  recom- 
pense of  the  reward.  By  faith  he  forsook  Egypt,  not 
feainng  the  wrath  of  the  king  :  for  he  endured  as  see- 
ing him   ivho  is  invisible. ..Hebrews,  xi.  24. ..27. 

THE  history  of  mankind  contains  many  a  lament- 
able detail  of  the  sad  reverses  to  which  human 
affairs  are  liable  ;  of  the  affluent,  by  unforeseen,  un- 
avoidable calamity,  tumbled  into  indigence  ;  of  great- 
ness in  eclipse  ;  of  the  mighty  fallen ;  of  princes  de- 
throned, banished,  put  to  death.  In  some  instances 
of  this  sort,  we  see  the  unhappy  sufferers  making  a 
virtue  of  necessity,  and  bearing  their  misfortunes  with 
a  certain  degree  of  patience  and  magnanimity  ;  but  in 
genera],  sudden  and  great  distress  either  sours  or  de- 
presses the  spirit,  and  men  submit  to  the  will  of  Pro- 
vidence with  so  ill  a  grace,  that  it  is  evident  they  are 
not  under  the  power  of  religion,  and  that  they  flee  not 
for  consolation  to  the  prospects  of  immortality. 

We  are  this  evening  to  contemplate  one  of  those  rare 
examples  of  true  greatness  of  mind,  which  made  a 
voluntary  sacrifice  of  the  most  enviable  situation,  and 
the  most  flattering  prospects,  which  human  life  admits 

VOL.  II.  fi 


26  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  YI. 

of ;  and  that  at  an  age  when  the  heart  is  most  devoted 
to  the  pursuit  of  pleasure,  most  susceptible  of  the  al- 
lurements of  ambition.  It  is  the  singular  instaiuce  of 
Moses,  the  prophet  and  legislator  of  Israel,  who, 
brought  up  from  infancy  in  a  court,  instructed  in  all 
the  learning  of  the  Egyptians,  treated  as  the  heir  of 
empire,  and  encouraged  to  aspire  to  all  that  the  heart 
naturally  covets,  and  that  Providence  bestows,  on  the 
most  favored  of  mankind  ;  at  the  age  of  forty  cheer- 
fully resigned  all  these  advantages,  and  preferred  the 
life  of  a  slave  with  his  brethren,  and  of  a  shepherd  in 
the  land  of  Midian,  among  strangers,  to  all  the  luxury 
and  splendor  belonging  to  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daugh- 
ter, to  all  the  dazzling  hopes  of  royalty  or  of  power 
next  to  majesty. 

Scripture,  in  its  own  admirably  concise  method, 
dispatches  the  history  of  this  great  man's  life,  from 
his  infancy  to  his  fortieth  year,  in  a  few  short  words, 
iiamely,  '^  and  Moses  was  learned  in  all  the  wisdom 
of  the  Egyptians,  and  was  mighty  in  words  and  in 
deeds,"  Actsvii.  22,  as  not  deeming  information  con- 
cerning attainments  in  human  science,  or  feats  of  mar- 
tial prowess,  worthy  of  the  knowledge  of  posterity, 
compared  to  the  triumphs  of  his  faith,  the  generous 
workings  of  his  public  spirit,  and  the  noble  ardor  of 
fervent  piety. 

Philo  and  Josephus,  however,  and  other  Jewish 
writers,  have  taken  upon  them  to  fill  up  this  interval 
of  time,  by  a  fanciful,  fabulous,  unsupported  account 
of  the  earlier  years  of  Moses ;  which  v\  e  should  per- 
haps be  disposed,  in  part,  to  retail  for  your  amusement, 
if  not  for  your  instruction,  had  not  the  Spirit  of  God 
supplied  us  with  well  authenticated  memoirs  of  a  more 
advanced  period  of  his  life.  In  the  perusal  of  which, 
with  serious  meditation  upon  them,  ^ve  shall,  I  trust, 
find  pleasure  and  profit  blended  together. 

Taking  inspiration  then  for  our  guide,  we  divide 
the  history  of  Moses  into  three  periods  of  equal  dura- 


LEGT.   ir.  HISTORY  OF   JIOSES.  -^7 

tion  in  respect  of  time,  namely  of  forty  years  each;, 
but  very  different  in  respect  of  situation,  notoriety  and 
importance.  The  first,  and  of  which  the  Ijible  is  silent, 
or  speaks  but  a  single  word,  presents  him  to  us  a  stu- 
dent in  the  schools  of  the  Egyptian  Magi,  one  among 
the  princes  in  the  court  of  Pharaoh,  a  poet,  an  orator,  a 
statesman,  a  general,  or  whatever  else  imagination 
pleases  to  make  him.  The  second,  exhibits  an  hum- 
ble shepherd,  tending  the  flocks  of  Jethro  his  father-in- 
law,  and  fulfilling  the  duties  and  exemplifying  the  vir- 
tues of  the  private  citizen.  In  the  third,  we  attend 
the  footsteps  of  the  saviour  of  his  nation,  the  leader 
and  commander,  the  lawgiver  and  judge  of  the  Israel  of 
God  :  under  whom  that  chosen  race  was  conducted 
from  Egyptian  oppression,  to  the  possession  of  the  land 
promised  to  Abraham  and  to  his  seed  ;  the  instrument 
chosen,  raised  up  and  employed  of  the  Dlvin*^  Provi- 
dence, to  execute  the  purposes  of  the  Almighty,  in  a 
case  which  affected  the  general  interests,  spiritual  and. 
everlasting,  of  all  mankind. 

It  is  of  the  second  of  these  periods  we  are  now  to 
treat ;  and  though  our  materials  be  small  and  few,  if 
we  be  so  happy  as  to  make  a  proper  use  of  them,  we 
shall  find  that,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  our  labour  has 
not  been  in  vain. 

In  Moses,  then,  in  the  very  prime  and  vigor  of  his 
life,  we  see  a  mind  uncorrupted  by  the  maxims  and 
manners  of  an  impious,  tyrannical,  idolatrous  court ; 
a  mind  not  intoxicated  by  royal  favor,  not  seduced 
by  the  allurements  of  ambition,  not  deadened  by  the 
uninterrupted  possession  of  prosperity,  to  the  impres- 
sions of  humanity  and  compassion.  And  what  pre- 
served him  ?  He  believed  in  God.  The  mind's  eye 
was  fixed  on  Him  who  is  invisible  to  the  eye  of  sense. 
And  what  is  the  wisdom  of  Egypt  compared  to  this  ? 
It  was  a  land  of  astronomers,  a  land  of  \\an iors,  a 
land  of  artists  ;  and  the  impiovement  which  Moses 
made  in  every  liberal  art  ai}d  science,  we  may  well 


28  HISTORY   OF    MOSES.  LECT.  II. 

suppose  was  equal  to  any,  the  first,  of  the  age  and  na- 
tion in  which  he  Hved.  But  a  principle  infinitely  su- 
perior to  every  thing  human,  a  principle  not  taught 
in  the  schools  of  the  philosophers,  a  principle  which 
carries  the  soul  where  it  resides,  beyond  the  limits  of 
this  little  world,  inspired  high  thoughts,  dictated  a  no- 
ble, manly,  generous  conduct. 

And  first,  it  taught  him  to  despise  and  to  reject 
empty,  unavailing,  worldly  honors.  '*  By  faith  Mo- 
ses, when  he  was  come  to  years,  refused  to  be  called 
the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daughter,"  Heb.  xi.  24.  Ordi- 
nary spirits  value  themselves  on  rank  and  distinction. 
Ordinary  men,  raised  unexpectedly  to  eminence,  strive 
to  conceal  and  forget  the  meanness  of  their  extraction ; 
but  Moses  would  rather  pass  for  the  son  of  a  poor, 
oppressed  Israelite,  than  for  the  adopted  son  and  heir 
of  the  oppressing  tyrant's  daughter-  Putting  religion 
out  of  the  question,  true  magnanimity  will  seek  to  de- 
rive consequence  from  itself,  not  from  parentage  or 
any  other  adventitious  circumstance ;  will  not  consider 
itself  as  ennobled  by  what  it  could  have  no  power  over, 
nor  debased  by  what  has  in  its  own  nature  no  shame. 
To  be  either  vain  of  one's  ancestry,  or  ashamed  of  it,  is 
equally  the  mark  of  a  grovelling  spirit.  Art  thou  highly 
descended,  my  friend?  Let  high  birth  inspire  high, 
that  is,  worthy,  generous  sentiments.  Beware  of  dis- 
gracing reputable  descent,  by  sordid,  vulgar,  vicious 
behaviour.  Hast  thou  nothing  to  boast  of  in  respect 
of  pedigree  ?  Strive  to  lay  the  foundation  of  thine  own 
nobility  :  convince  the  fools  of  the  world,  that  good- 
ness is  true  greatness ;  that  a  catalogue  of  living  vir- 
tues is  much  more  honorable  than  a  long  list  of  depart- 
ed names.  Know  ye  not,  that  faith  makes  every  one 
who  lives  by  it  more  than  the  son  of  a  king  ?  For  the 
son  of  a  king  may  be  a  fool  or  a  profligate  ;  but  faith 
makes  its  possessor  a  son  of  God,  that  is,  a  wise  and  a 
good  man ;  and  by  it,  Moses  was  more  noble  in  the  wil- 
derness of  Sinai,  than  in  the  imperial  court  of  Pharaoh. 


LECT.    It.  HISTORY   OF   MOSES.  29 

As  this  divine  instructor  taught  him  to  undervalue 
and  to  refuse  empty  honors,  so  it  inspired  him  with 
pity  to  his  afflicted  brethren.  "  And  it  came  to  pass  in 
those  days,  when  Moses  \\as  grown,  that  he  went  out 
unto  his  brethren,  and  looked  on  their  burdens  :  and 
he  spied  an  Egyptian  smiting  an  Hebrew,  one  of  his 
brethren,"  Exod.  ii.  11.  Ease  and  affluence  generally 
harden  the  heart.  If  it  be  well  with  the  selfish  man 
himself,  he  little  cares  what  others  endure.  But  re- 
ligion teaches  another  lesson  :  "  Love  to  God  whom 
we  have  not  seen,"  w  ill  always  be  productive  of  "  love 
to  men  whom  we  have  seen."  From  the  root  of  faith 
many  kindred  stems  spring  up;  and  all  bring  forth  fruit. 
There,  arises  the  stately  plant  of  heavenly  mindedness, 
producing  the  golden  apples  of  self-government,  self- 
denial,  and  contempt  of  the  world ;  and  close  by  its 
side,  and  sheltered  by  its  branches,  gentle  sympathy 
expands  its  blossoms  and  breathes  its  perfumes ;  con- 
solation to  the  afflicted,  and  relief  to  the  miserable. 

The  progress  of  compassion,  in  Moses,  is  described 
"with  wonderful  delicacy  and  judgment.  First,  he 
foregoes  the  pleasures  of  a  court.  Unable  to  relish  a 
solitary,  selfish  gratification,  while  he  reflected  that 
his  nearest  and  dearest  relations  were  eating  the  bread 
and  drinking  the  water  of  aflSiiction,  he  goes  out  to 
look  upon  their  misery,  and  tries  by  kind  looks  and 
words  of  love,  to  soothe  thei?-  woes.  Unable  to  allevi- 
ate, much  less  to  remove  their  anguish,  he  is  deter- 
mined at  least  to  be  a  partaker  of  it ;  and  since  he  can- 
not raise  them  to  the  enjoyment  of  Ids  liberty  and  ease, 
he  voluntarily  takes  a  share  of  their  bondage  and  oppres- 
sion. There  is  something  \^onderfully  pleasing  to  a 
soul  in  trouble,  to  see  one  \\ho might  have  shunned  it, 
and  have  turned  away  from  the  sufferer,  out  of  pure 
love,  drinking  from  the  same  bitter  cup,  and  submitting 
to  the  same  calamity.  At  length  an  honest  zeal  breaks 
forth,  and  overleaps  the  bounds  of  patience  and  dis» 
jcretion.    Seeing  a  brutal  Egyptian  smiting  an  Hebrew, 


20  HISTORY   OF   MOSES.  LECT.  11. 

incapable  of  suppressing  his  indignation,  he  assaults 
the  oppressor,  and  puts  him  to  death.  '^  Moses  was 
meek  above  all  the  men  of  the  earth."  But  "  surely 
oppression  niaketh  a  wise  man  mad."  This  we  alledge 
as  an  apology  for  the  conduct  of  Moses,  not  a  vindica- 
tion of  it ;  for  we  pretend  not  to  say  it  was  in  all  re- 
spects justifiable.  But  it  is  one  of  those  singular  cases 
to  which  common  rules  will  not  2ipply. 

The  da}'  after,  he  had  the  mortification  of  seeing 
two  FIebrev\  s  striving  together.  Unhappy  men  !  as  if 
they  had  not  enemies  enough  in  their  common,  cruel 
task-masters  ;  as  if  condemnation  to  labor  in  making 
bricks  without  some  of  the  necessary  materials,  could 
not  find  employment  for  their  most  vigorous  efforts  ; 
as  if  an  edict  to  destroy  all  their  male  children  from 
their  birth,  had  not  been  sufficient  to  fill  up  the  mea- 
sure of  their  woe  ;  they  pour  hatred  and  strife  into  the 
bowl,  already  surcharged  with  wormwood  and  gall. 
Wretched  sons  of  men  !  eternally  arraigning  the  wis- 
dom and  goodness  of  Providence  ;  eternally  complain- 
ing of  the  hardships  of  their  lot ;  and  eternally  swelling 
the  catalogue  of  their  miseries,  by  their  own  perverse- 
iiess  and  folly  ;  adding  vinegar  to  nitre,  and  then  won- 
dering how  their  distresses  came  to  be  so  great !  Moses 
reproved  the  offending  Egyptian  by  a  blow,  and  a  mortal 
one  ;  he  tries  to  gain  an  offending  brother  by  meekness 
and  gentleness  ;  he  makes  reason  and  humanity  speak ; 
but  they  speak  in  vain  ;  for  the  same  spirit  that  leads 
men  to  commit  cruelty  or  injustice,  leads  them  also 
to  vindicate  and  support  their  ill  conduct.  *'  And  he 
said  to  him  that  did  the  wrong,  Wherefore  smitest 
thou  thy  fellow  ?  And  he  said,  AVho  made  thee  a 
prince  and  a  judge  over  us  :  intendest  thou  lo  kill  me, 
as  thou  killeclst  the  Egyptian,"  Exod.  ii.  13,  14.  From 
this,  Moses  discovered  that  the  rash  action  which  he 
had  committed  the  day  before,  was  publicly  known  and 
talked  of,  and  might  prove  fatal  to  him,  unless  he  in- 
stantly ficd  from  the  danger.     The  affair  had  reached 


iECT.  II.  HISTOBV   OF  MOSES.  31 

the  ears  of  Pharaoh,  who,  it  would  appear,  wanted 
onlv  a  decent  pretence  to  rid  himself  of  a  man  of  u  hom 
all  Egypt  was  jealous.  He  hurries  away  therefore  out 
of  the  territories  of  the  kint^  of  Egypt,  into  that  p^rt 
of  Arabia  which  is  called  Petrea,  from  its  mountain- 
ous or  rocky  aspect ;  and  by  a  singular  concurrence  of 
providential  circumstances,  is  stopped  at  a  city  of  that 
country  called  Midian,  and  is  induced  to  remain  there 
for  many  years. 

There  lived  in  this  city  a  person  of  distinguished 
rank  and  station  ;  but  whether  possessed  of  a  sacred 
or  a  civil  character,  the  ambiguity  of  the  term  in  the 
holy  language  permits  us  not  to  determine ;  and  the 
scripture  leaves  us  totally  uncertain  whether  he  were  a 
priest  or  a  prince  of  jVIidian.  But  we  are  left  in  no 
doubt  respecting  his  moral  and  intellectual  qualifica- 
tions ;  and  we  shall  have  no  reason  to  be  displeased  at 
finding  the  history  of  Closes  blend^^d  with  that  of  so 
sensible  and  so  good  a  man  as  Jethro,  or  Raguel,  turns 
out  to  be.  Whatever  his  dignity  was,  the  sacerdotal 
or  royal,  we  find  his  daughters  trained  up  in  all  the 
simplicity  of  those  early  times  ;  following  the  humble, 
harmless  profession  of  shepherdesses.  Wise  is  that 
father,  kind  and  just  to  his  children,  who,  whatever 
his  station,  possessions  or  prospects  may  be,  brings  up 
his  sons  and  his  daughters  to  some  virtuous  and  useful 
employment ;  for  idleness  is  not  more  odious,  dishon- 
orable and  contemptible,  than  it  is  inimical  to  happi- 
ness, and  irreconcileable  to  inward  peace. 

Moses,  being  arrived  in  the  neighborhood  of  Midian, 
weary  and  faint  with  a  long  journey,  through  a  barren 
and  unhospitable  country,  sits  down  by  a  well  of  water 
to  rest  and  refresh  himself.  And,  as  a  good  man's  foot- 
steps are  all  ordered  of  the  Lord,  Providence  sends  him 
thither  just  at  the  moment,  to  succor  tlie  daughters  of 
Raguel  from  the  violence  of  some  of  their  neighbors. 
In  those  countries,  the  precious  lluid  bestowed  upon  us 
in  such  boundless  profusion,  being  dispensed  as  it  were 


32  HISTOllY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  IT, 

in  drops,  became  an  object  of  desire  and  a  ground  of 
contention.  The  daughters  of  Jethro,  sensible  of  their 
inferiority  in  point  of  strength,  endeavor  to  supply  it  by 
diligence  and  address.  They  arrive  at  the  well  before 
their  rival  shepherds,  and  are  preparing  with  all  possible 
dispatch  to  water  their  flocks,  when  behold  they  are 
overtaken  by  these  brutals,  who  rudely  drive  them  and 
their  flocks  away,  and  cruelly  attempt  to  convert  the 
ijruits  of  their  labor  to  their  own  use.  Moses  possess- 
ing at  once  sensibility,  courage  and  force,  takes  part 
with  the  injured,  and  affords  them  effectual  support 
against  their  oppressors.  An  helpless,  timid  female, 
assaulted  and  insulted,  is  an  object  of  peculiar  concern 
to  a  brave  and  generous  spirit ;  and  for  this  reason, 
courage  and  intrepidity  are  qualities  in  men,  held  in 
great  and  just  estimation  by  the  female  sex. 

If  the  heroic  behavior  of  Moses  merit  approbation 
and  respect,  the  modest  reserve  of  the  virgin  daugh- 
ters of  Raguel  is  equally  amiable  and  praise-worthy. 
It  does  not  appear  that  they  solicited  protection,  but 
modestly  received  it  j  they  look  their  thanks  rather 
than  utter  them  ;  and  they  deem  it  more  suitable  to  their 
sex  and  character  to  appear  ungrateful  to  a  generous 
stranger,  than  to  offend  him  by  forwardness  and  indeli- 
cacy. They  hasten  home  to  their  father,  who,  sur- 
prised at  the  earliness  of  their  return,  inquires  into  the 
cause  of  it.  Happy,  I  doubt  not,  to  celebrate  the 
praises  of  a  man  whose  appearance  and  behavior  must 
have  made  a  deep  impression  upon  them,  they  relate  the 
adventure  of  the  morning ;  and  Raguel,  struck  with  the 
magnanimity,  gallantry  and  spirit  of  this  stranger's  con- 
duct, eagerly  inquires  after  him,  sends  to  find  him  out, 
invites  him  to  his  house  and  table,  and  endeavors  to 
express  that  gratitude,  which  the  young  women  could 
not,  by  every  effort  of  kindness  and  hospitality. 

Minds  so  well  assorted  as  those  of  Moses  and  Jethro, 
and  attracted  to  each  other  by  mutual  acts  of  benefi- 
eejice,  would  easily  assimilate  and  unite  in  friendship. 


LECT.   II.  HISTORY   OF  MOSES.  3i 

And  the  pleasing  recollection  of  protection  given  and 
received,  the  natural  sensibility  of  a  female  mind  to  per- 
sonal accomplishments,  but  more  especially  to  gene- 
rosity and  courage,  on  the  one  liand  ;  and  the  irresisti- 
ble charm  of  feminine  beauty  and  modesty  to  a  marily 
heart,  on  the  other,  would  speedily  and  insensibly,  be- 
tween Moses,  and  some  one  of  the  priest  of  Midian's 
fair  daughters,  ripen  into  love.  What  follows,  there- 
fore, is  all  in  the  course  of  honest  nature,  which  never 
swerves  from  her  purpose,  never  fails  to  accomplish  her 
end.  But  it  v.'as  Providence  that  furnished  the  field 
and  the  instruments  with  which  nature  should  work. 
That  Providence  which  saved  him  forty  f'yC'ii's  before 
from  perishing  in  the  Nile  ;  that  Providence  which  de- 
livered him  so  lately  from  the  hands  of  an  incensed 
king;  the  sarae  Providence  now%  by  a  concourse  of 
circumstances  equally  beyond  the  reach  of  luiman 
power  or  foresight,  iixcs  the  bounds  of  his  habitation, 
forms  for  him  the  most  important  connexion  of  human 
life  ;  and  for  another  space  of  forty  years  makes  him 
forget  the  tumultuous  pleasures  of  a  court,  in  the  more 
calm  and  rational  delights  of  disinterested  friendship, 
virtuous  affection,  and  heavenly  contemplation. 

It  was  in  this  delicious  retreat,  that  the  man  of  God 
is  supposed  to  have  composed,  by  divine  inspiration,  and 
to  have  committed  to  ^\  riting,  that  most  ancient,  most 
elegant,  and  most  instructive  of  all  books  ;  which  con- 
tains the  history  of  the  world,  from  the  creation  down 
to  his  own  times  :  a  period  which  no  other  writer  has 
presumed  to  touch  upon;  holy  ground  which  none 
but  the  foot  of  God  himself  has  dared  to  tread.  Here 
also,  and  at  this  time,  as  it  is  conjectured  by  interpre- 
ters, he  wrote  that  beautifully  poetical,  moral  and  his- 
torical work,  the  book  of  Job  :  which,  for  sublimity 
of  thought,  force  of  expression,  justness  of  sentiment, 
strength  of  reasoning,  and  variety  of  matter,  holds  a 
distinguished  place  in  the  sacred  code.  If  from  the 
schools  of  the  Magi  ha  drew  such  stores  of  wisdom 

VOL.    IT.  E 


i 


34.  HISTORY   OF   MOSES.  LECT.   II. 

and  eloquence,  high  must  our  ideas  rise  of  those  noble 
seminaries  of  learning.  But  Moses  derived  his  won- 
derful accomplishments  from  a  much  higher  source, 
even  from  the  everlasting  Spring  of  all  knowledge,  even 
from  Him  who  made  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and 
caused  the  light  to  arise;  even  from  Him  who  can 
make  the  desert  of  Horeb  a  school  of  wisdom,  and 
the  simple  to  be  wiser  than  all  his  teachers.  Here,  also, 
he  has  the  ftlicity  of  becoming  a  father  ;  and,  even  in 
Midian,  God  builds  up  one  of  the  families  of  Israel. 

And  now  at  last  the  time  to  favor  that  despised,  op- 
])ressed  nation  was  come.  Egypt  had  changed  its 
sovereign  in  the  mean  time,  but  the  seed  of  Jacob  had 
felt  no  mitigation  of  their  distress.  Every  change 
which  they  have  undergone  is  only  from  evil  to  worse. 
Moses  was  now  arrived  at  his  eightieth  year,  but  re- 
mained in  the  full  vigor  of  his  bodily  strength,  and  of 
jjis  mental  powers.  Erring,  reasoning,  cavilling  man 
will  be  asking,  Why  was  the  employment  of  Moses  in 
so  important  a  service  so  long  delayed  ?  Wherefore 
bury  such  talents  for  such  a  space  of  time  in  the  in- 
glorious life  of  an  obscure  shepherd  ?  Wherefore  call  a 
man  at  so  late  a  period  of  life,  in  the  evening  of  his 
day,  in  the  decline  of  his  faculties,  to  a  service  that 
required  all  thefervor,  intrepidity  and  exertionof  youth? 
To  all  which  we  answer  in  the  words  of  our  Saviour  on 
a  well-known  occasion,  "  It  is  not  for  you  to  know  the 
times  or  the  seasons  which  the  Father  hath  put  in  his 
own  power."  Man  is  perpetually  in  a  hurry,  and  of- 
ten hastens  forward  without  making  progress;  but 
"  he  that  belie veth  shall  not  make  haste."  God,  the 
father  of  believers,  advances  to  his  end  not  in  a  vehe- 
ment and  hurried  step,  but  in  a  solemn,  steady,  majes- 
tic pace  ;  his  progress,  Vvdiich  we  may  in  our  folly  ac- 
count slow,  in  the  issue  proves  to  have  been  the  most 
expeditious  ;  and  the  course  which  human  ignorance 
mav  condemn  as  irres:ular  and  circuitous,  will  be 
found  in  the  end  the  shortest  and  the  surest. 


LF.CT.    II.  HISTORY   OF   MOSES.  35 

The  course  of  the  history  then  has  brought  us  to 
that  importunt,  tventful  hour,  vvlicn  the  shepherd  of 
^lldian,  trained  up  in  retiienicnt  and  coiiteinplalicn, 
and  converse  with  God,  was  to  bhake  ofi'  his  disguise, 
and  stand  confessed  the  minister  of  the  most  high  God, 
the  king  in  Jeshurn,  the  scourge  of  Elgypt,  the  deliverer 
of  Israel.  As  the  commission  which  was  given  him 
to  execute,  and  the  station  assigned  to  him,  were  alto- 
gether singular  and  uncommon,  we  are  not  to  be  sur- 
prised if  the  seal  and  signature  affixed  to  that  commis- 
sion, and  the  powers  bestowed  for  the  faithful  and  ef- 
fectual execution  of  it,  should  likewise  be  out  of  the 
usual  course  of  things,  and  should  announce  the  power 
and  authority  of  Him  who  granted  it.  But  as  this 
merits  a  principal  place  in  the  course  of  these  exercises, 
we  shall  not  compress  it  into  the  conclusion  of  a  Lec- 
ture ;  hoping,  through  the  help  of  God,  to  resume 
and  continue  the  subject  next  Lord's  day. 

Such  was  Moses,  the  Jewish  legislator  and  hero, 
during  the  two  first  great  periods  of  his  life.  But  a 
greater  than  Moses  is  here,  even  He,  *'  the  latchet  of 
whose  shoes  Moses  is  unworthy  to  stoop  down  and  to 
unloose;"  to  whom  Moses  and  Elias,  on  the  mount  of 
transfiguration,  brouj^ht  all  their  glory  and  honor  and 
laid  them  at  his  feet  1 

Moses  "  refused  to  be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh's 
daughter;"  and  Jesus  disdained  not  to  be  called  **  the 
son  of  the  carpenter."  Supreme,  all  divine  though 
He  was,  yet  he  declined  not  the  society  of  the  poorest, 
meanest,  most  afflicted  of  mankind  ! 

AVas  the  humiliation  of  Moses  cheerful  and  volun- 
tary, not  forcibly  obtruded  upon  him,  but  sought  out 
and  submitted  to?  Christ,  thougli  "  in  the  form  of 
God,  and  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  witli 
God,  yet  made  himself  of  no  reputation,  and  took 
upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant."  Was  sympathy  a 
leading  feature  in  the  character  of  Moses?  Jesus  "  hath 
not  despised  nor  abhorred  the  affliction  of  the  afflicted, 


36  IIISTOIIY   or   MOSES.  LECT.   II. 

neither  hath  he  hid  his  face  from  him,  but  when  he 
cried  unto  him  he  heard,"  Psahn  xxii.  24.  "  In  all 
their  affliction  he  was  afflicted,  and  the  angel  of  his 
presence  saved  them ;  in  his  love  and  in  his  pity  he 
redeemed  them,  and  he  bare  them,  and  carried  them 
all  the  days  of  old,"  Isaiah  Ixiii.  9.  Did  Moses, 
through  the  vale  of  obscurity,  arrive  at  the  summit  of 
glory  ?  Of  Christ  it  is  said,  as  following  up  the  scene 
of  his  humiliation,  *'  Wherefore  God  also  hath  highly 
exalted  him,  and  given  him  a  name  which  is  above 
every  name  :  that  at  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee 
should  bow,  of  things  in  heaven,  and  things  in  earth, 
and  things  urrder  the  earth  :  and  that  every  tongue 
should  confess  that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory 
of  God  the  Fatlier."  But  the  time  would  fail  to  point 
out  every  mark  of  resemblance.  Christ  derives  no 
glory  from  similitude  to  Moses,  but  all  the  glory 
of  Moses  flows  from  his  typifying  Christ  the  Lord, 
in  whom  "  all  the  promises  are  yea  and  amen," 
and  who  "  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to 
every  one  that  believeth." 


HISTORY  OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  III. 

jind  Moses  said  unto  God^  Behold^  when  I  come  unto 
the  children  of  Israel,  and  shall  say  unto  them,  The 
God  of  your  fathers  hath  sent  me  unto  yon  j  and 
they  shall  say  to  me,  What  is  his  name  P  What 
shall  I  say  ?into  them  ?  And  God  said  unto  Moses, 
J  AM  THAT  I  AM :  And  he  saidy  Thus  shalt 
thou  say  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  I  AM  hath 
sent  me  wito  you.... E-xoavs  iii.  13,14. 

THE  objects  presented  to  us  in  the  commerce  o  f 
the  world  have  a  relative  greatness,  but  thos  e 
with  which  we  converse  in  solitude  and  retirement 
possess  a  real  grandeur  and  magnificence.  A  vast 
city,  a  numerous  and  well-disciplined  army,  a  proud 
navy,  a  splendid  court,  and  the  like,  dazzle  the  eyes 
of  a  stranger,  and  produce  a  transient  wonder  and  de- 
light. But  a  little  acquaintance  dissolves  the  charm  ; 
the  dimensions  of  credited  greatness  speedily  contract, 
the  glory  departs,  and  what  once  filled  us  with  aston- 
ishment is  regarded  with  calm  indifference,  perhaps 
with  disgust.  The  eye,  almost  with  a  single  glance, 
reaches  the  end  of  human  perfection,  and  instantly 
turns  from  what  it  has  seen,  in  search  of  something 
yet  undiscovered,  striving  to  find  in  novelty  and  vari- 
ety a  compensation  for  the  poverty,  littleness,  nothing- 
ness of  the  creature.  But  when  we  withdraw  from 
the  haunts  of  men,  and  either  retire  within  ourselves 
or  send  our  thoughts  abroad  to  contemplate  God  and 


38  HISTORY  GF  MOSES.  LECT.  III. 

his  works,  we  meet  a  heighth  and  a  depth  which  the  line 
of  finite  understanding  cannot  fathom  ;  we  expatiate  in 
a  region  which  still  discloses  new  scenes  of  wonder  ; 
we  feel  ourselves  at  once  invited  and  checked,  attract- 
ed and  repelled ;  we  behold  much  that  we  can  compre- 
hend and  explain,  but  much  more  that  passeth  know- 
ledge ;  we  find  ourselves,  like  Moses  at  the  bush,  upon 
*'  holy  ground,"  and  the  same  wonderful  sight  is  ex- 
hibited to  our  view...."  JEHOVAH!"  in  a  flame 
OF  FIRE  !  whose  light  irradiates  and  encourages  our 
approach  ;  but  whose  fervent  heat  arrests  our  speed, 
and  remands  us  to  our  proper  distance. 

The  great  man  had  now  passed  the  second  great 
period  of  his  life  in  the  humble  station  of  a  shepherd, 
and  the  shepherd  too  of  another  man's  flock,  He  had 
quitted  the  enchanted  regions  of  high  life,  not  only 
without  regret,  but  with  joy  ;  not  impelled  by  spleen, 
nor  soured  by  disappointment;  but  filled  with  a  noble 
disdain  for  empty  honors,  with  generous  sympathy 
towards  his  afflicted  brethren,  animated  by  exalted 
piety  which  settled  on  an  invisible  God,  and  inspired 
with  a  soul  which  looked  at  pomp  with  contempt,  and 
on  obscurity  with  acquiescence  and  desire.  It  was  in 
this  calm  retreat  that  he  cultivated  those  qualities,  which 
proved  more  favorable  to  the  designs  of  Providence 
than  all  the  learning  which  he  had  acquired  in  Egypt. 

At  the  age  of  eighty  the  race  of  glory  is  at  an  end 
with  most  men  ;  nay,  the  drama  of  life  concludes  with 
the  generality  long  before  that  period  arrives.  But  the 
same  activity  and  usefulness  of  Aloses  commenced  not 
till  then ;  for  as  it  is  never  too  early,  so  it  is  never  too 
late  to  serve  God  and  to  do  good  to  men  ;  and  true 
wisdom  consists  in  waiting  for  and  following  the  call 
of  Heaven,  not  in  anticipating  and  outrunning  it. 
Abraham  was  turned  out  a  \vanderer  and  an  exile  at 
seventy-five.  And  Moses  at  four-score  was  sent  upon 
an  enterprize,  which  it  required  much  courage  to  un- 
dertake,  much  vigor  to  conduct  and  support,   and  a 


LECT.   III.  HISTORY   OF   MOSES.  39 

great  length  of  time  to  execute.  But  before  the  divhie 
mandate  every  mountain  of  difficulty  sinks,  "  every 
valley  is  exalted,  the  crooked  becomes  straight,  and 
the  rough  places  plain."  Abraham,  at  the  head  of  a 
handful  of  servants,  subdues  five  victorious  kings,  with 
their  armies  :  Sarah,  at  ninety,  bears  a  son  ;  and  iMoses, 
at  eighty,  with  a  simple  rod  in  his  hand,  advances  to 
succour  Israel,  and  to  crush  the  power  of  Egypt. 

The  solemnity  with  which  the  commission  was  given 
suited  the  dignity  and  importance  of  the  undertaking. 
The  whole  was  of  God,  and  he  does  every  thing  in  a 
manner  worthy  of  himself.  While  Moses  was  em- 
ployed in  the  innocent  cares  and  labors  of  his  lowly 
station  ;  and  faithful  attention  to  the  duties  of  our  se- 
veral stations  is  the  best  preparation  for  the  visits  of 
the  Almighty  ;  a  very  unusual  and  unaccountable  ap- 
pearance presented  itself  to  his  eyes.  A  bush  wholly 
involved  in  flames,  yet  continuing  unchanged,  undi- 
minished, unconsumed  by  the  fire.  Whether  nature 
preserves  her  steady  tenor,  or  suffers  an  alteration  or 
suspension  of  the  laws  by  which  she  is  usually  govern- 
ed, the  finger  of  God  is  equally  visible  in  both  ;  for, 
what  power,  save  that  which  is  divine,  could  have 
established  and  can  maintain  the  order  and  harmony 
of  the  universe  ?  And  what  power  short  of  Omnipo- 
tence can  break  in  upon  that  order  ;  can  make  the  sun 
to  stand  still,  or  its  shadow  return  back  to  the  meridian 
after  it  had  declined  ;  can  leave  to  fire  its  illuminating, 
but  withdraw  its  devouring  quality  ;  and  render  arti- 
ficial fire,  such  as  that  of  Nebuchadnezzar's  furnace 
harmless  to  the  three  children  of  the  captivity,  but  fatal 
to  the  mmisters  of  the  king  of  Babylon  ?  Were  our 
hearts  right  with  God,  miraculous  interpositions 
would  be  unnecessary;  every  creature,  every  event 
should  promote  our  acquaintance  with  our  Maker. 
And  such  is  the  condescension  of  the  Most  High, 
that  he  vouchsafes  to  cure  our  ignorance,  inattention 
or  unbelief,  by  making  the  mighty    sacrifice  of  that 


40  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.   III. 

stated  course  of  things,  which  his  wisdom  settled  at 
first,  and  which  his  power  continues  to  support. 
Rather  than  man  shall  remain  unchanged,  unre- 
deemed, the  great  system  of  nature  shall  undergo 
alteration  ;  fire  shall  cease  to  burn,  the  Nile  shall  run 
blood  instead  of  water,  the  sun  forget  to  shine  for  three 
days  together;  the  eternal  uncreated  Word  shall  become 
flesh,  and  the  fountain  of  life  to  all,  shall  expire  in  death. 

It  required  not  the  sagacity  of  a  Moses  to  discover, 
that  there  was  something  extraordinary  here.  But  mis- 
taking it  at  first  for  merely  an  unusual,  natural  appear- 
ance, whose  cause,  by  a  closer  investigation,  he  might 
be  able  to  discover,  he  is  preparing  by  nearer  observa- 
tion to  satisfy  his  curiosity ;  when  lo !  to  his  still  greater 
astonishment,  the  bush  becomes  vocal  as  well  as  brilli- 
ant, and  he  hears  his  ow  n  name  distinctly  and  repeat- 
edly called,  out  of  the  midst  of  the  flame.  Curiosity 
and  wonder  are  now  checked  by  a  more  powerful  prin- 
ciple than  either.  Terror  thrills  in  every  vain,  and  ar- 
rests his  trembling  steps.  How  dreadful  must  the 
visitations  of  God's  anger  be  to  his  enemies,  if  to  his 
best  beloved  children,  the  intimation  of  his  goodness, 
clothed  in  any  thing  like  sensible  glory,  be  so  awful 
and  overwhelming?  When  I  meet  thee,  O  my  God, 
stripped  of  diis  veil  of  flesh,  may  I  find  thee  a  pure,  a 
genial  and  lambent  flame  of  loving-kindness,  not  a 
consuming  fire  of  wrath  and  vengeance! 

Moses  instantly  comprehends  that  the  Lord  was 
there  ;  or  if  he  could  for  a  moment  have  doubted  who 
it  was  that  talked  with  him,  in  a  moment  his  doubt 
must  haAc  been  removed  by  the  continuation  of  the 
voice  of  Him  v,  ho  spake.  We  find  here,  as  in  many 
other  places  of  the  Old  Testament,  the  same  person 
^vho  is  styled,  in  the  course  of  the  narration,  the  "  An- 
gel of  the  Lord,"  styling  himself  Jehovah  and  God  ; 
exercising  divine  prerogatives,  manifesting  divine  per- 
fections, and  claiming  the  homage  which  is  due  to 
Deity  alone.     The  person  therefore,  thus  described, 


lECT.  III.  KISTORT   Of   MOSRS.  il 

can  be  none  other  than  the  uncreated  "  Angel  of  the 
covenant,"  who  '*  at  sundry  times,  and  in  divers  man- 
ners," in  maturing  the  work  of  redemption,  assumed 
a  sensible  appearance  ;  and  at  lei\a;th,  in  tlic  fulness  of 
time,  united  his  divine  nature  to  ours,  and  dwelt  among 
men,  and  made  them  "  to  behold  his  glory,  as  the  glory 
of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father, full  of  grace  and  inuh.'' 

Every  thing  here  is  singular  and  every  thing  in- 
structive. The  first  interview  between  God  and  Mo- 
ses inspires  terror  ;  but  the  spirit  of  bondage  gradually 
dies  away,  and  refines  into  the  spirit  of  adoption  and  love. 
Acquaintance  begets  confidence,  "  Perfect  love  castcth 
out  fear  ;"  and  the  man  who  spake  to  God  with  trem- 
bling in  Horeb,  by  and  by  becomes  strengthened  to 
endure  his  presence  forty  days  and  nights  together,  in 
Sinai.  "  Enduring,  as  seeing  Him  who  is  invisible," 
'he  "  despised  the  wrath  of  an  earthly  king."  When 
he  comes  to  the  knowledge  of  that  same  God,  by  the 
seeing  of  the  eye  and  the  hearing  of  the  ear,  he  "  ex- 
ceedingly fears  and  quakes  ;  abhors  himself,  and  lies 
low  in  dust  and  ashes."  But,  following  on  to  know 
the  Lord,  he  comes  at  length  to  converse  with  Him,  as 
a  man  with  his  friend.  "  Acquaint  thyself  then  u  ith 
him,  and  be  at  peace,  thereby  good  shall  come  unto 
thee."  Miserable  beyond  expression,  beyond  thought 
are  they,  ^vhose  acquaintance  with  God  has  to  begin 
at  death;  who  having  lived  without  a  gracious',  mer- 
ciful, long-suffering  God  in  the  world,  find  they  must, 
by  a  dreadful  necessity,  fall  into  the  hands  of  a  neglect- 
ed, forgotten,  righteous,  incensed  God,  when  they 
leave  it. 

The  appearance  of  Jehovah  in  the  bush  was  not  only 
preternatural,  but  emblematical;  it  not  only  sanctioned 
the  commission  given  to  Moses  by  the  seal  of  Deity, 
but  exhibited  a  lively  representation  of  the"  state  of  his 
church  and  people  in  Egypt ;  oppressed,  but  not  crush- 
ed, brought  low,  but  not  deserted  of  Heaven,  in  the 
midst  of  flames,  but  not  consumed.     And  it  is  a  strik- 

VOL.   II,  J 


4^  HISTORY   OF    MOSES.  LECT.  III. 

ing  emblem  of  the  church  of  God  in  the  world,  to  the 
end  of  time  ;  "  troubled  on  every  side,  yet  not  distres- 
sed, perlexed,  but  not  in  despair,  persecuted,  but  not 
forsaken,  cast  down,  but  not  destroyed." 

The  same  voice  which  solicited   intercourse  with 
MosGS,  which  tendered  friendship,  which  encouraged 
hope,  sets  a  fence  about  the  divine   Majesty  ;   it  re- 
minds him  of  his  distance,  of  his  impurity  ;   it  forbids 
rashness,   presumption,   familiarity,     in  veneration  of 
the  spot  which  God  had  honored  with  his  special  pre- 
sence, he  is  commanded  to  "  put  off  his   shoes  from 
off  his  feet ;"  a  mandate,   which  by  an  image  natural 
and  obvious,  enjoins  the  drawing  near  to  God  in  holy 
places,  and  in  sacred  services,  with  seriousness,  atten- 
tion and  reverence  ;  divested  of  that   impurity  which 
men  necessarily  contract  by  coming  into  frequent  con- 
tact with  the  world.     And  surely,  it  is  owing  to  the 
want  of  a  due  sense  of  the  majesty  of  God  upon  our 
spirits,  that  his  house  is  profaned  and  his  service  mar- 
red by  levity,   carelessness  and  inattention.     Did  wc 
seriously  consider  that  the  place  where  we   stand  is 
"  holy  ground,"  that  the   word  which  we  speak  and 
hear  is  "  not  the  word  of  men,  but  of  the  living  God,'* 
could  one  short  hour's  attendance  betray  us  into  slum- 
ber? Could  the  little  jealousies  and  strife  of  abase 
world  intrude  into  a  worshipping  heart  ?  Could  the  eye 
find  leisure  to  wander  upon  the  dress  and  appearance 
of  another?  Durst  a  scornful  leer  or  simpering  coun- 
tenance communicate  from  one  vain,   silly,  irreverent 
spirit  to  another,  the  private  sneer  and  censure?  Would 
there  be  a  contention  for   place  and  pre-eminence  ? 
Now,  surely,  God  is  as  really,  though  less  sensibly,  in 
this  place,  as  he  was  in  the  bush  at  Horeb  :  and  though 
we  sec  him  not,  his  eyes  are  continually  upon  us,  and 
he  will  bring  every  thing  into  judgment.     O  Lord, 
open  thou  our  eyes,  that  we  may  behold  Thee,  and 
every  other  object  shall  instantly  disappear. 

The  words  which  follow,  if  any  thing  can  increase 


LECT.    II[.  HISTORY    OF   MOSiiS.  4S 

their  intrinsic  force  and  importance,  derive  a  peculiar 
cnerg)'  iind  \'alue  to  the  christian  world,  as  the  passage 
quoted  by  our  blcbsed  Lord,  from  an  authority  which 
they  could  not  deny,  to  confute  the  Sadducc'Cis,  on  the 
subject  of  tlie  immortality  of  the  soul,  and  the  resur- 
rection of  the  body.  "  I  am  the  God  of  Abraham, 
and  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of  Jacob."  We 
speak  of  the  dead,,  under  the  idea  that  they  iverc  ;  but 
God  represents  them  as  still  existing,  and  his  relation 
to  them  as  unbroken,  his  care  of  them  as  uninterrupted. 
The  effect  which  this  declaration  had  upon  Moses,  is 
such  as  might  have  been  expected  ;  no  more  *'  turning 
aside  to  see  this  great  sight;"  he  hides  his  face, 
"  afraid  to  look  upon  God."  It  is  ignorance  of  God, 
not  intimate  communion,  which  encourages  for\A'ard- 
ness  and  freedom.  Angels,  who  know  him  best,  and 
love  him  most,  are  most  sensible  of  their  distance  ; 
and  are  represented  as  "  covering  their  faces  with  their 
wings' '  when  they  approach  their  dread  Creator. 

In  the  declaration  which  immediately  follows,  under 
a  sanction  so  solemn  and  affecting,  which  shall  wc 
most  admire,  the  mercy  and  goodness  of  God,  or  his 
perfect  wisdom  and  foreknowledge.  Four  hundred 
years  have  elapsed  since  this  wretched  state  of  his  pos- 
terity had  been  foretold  and  revealed  to  Abraham.  For 
w^ise  and  gracious  purposes  it  was  appointed  and 
brought  to  pass.  But  the  days  of  darkness  are  now 
almost  ended,  and  the  sun  returns.  Like  rain  from 
heaven  to  a  dry  and  thirsty  land,  the  promises  of  favor 
and  salvation  fall  upon  a  persecuted,  oppressed  people  : 
and  "  that  Moses  whom  they  refused,  saying,  Who 
made  thee  a  ruler  and  a  judge?"  is  after  an  interval 
of  forty  years  sent  back  to  Egypt,  on  the  kind  and 
merciful  errand  of  salvation  to  an  oppressed  and  per- 
secuted people. 

Moses  however,  it  would  appear,  has  not  forgotten 
the  surly  reception  which  his  well  meant  interposition 
had  met  with  from  his  brethren  so  long  before ;  and 


44  HISTORT  OF   MOSES.  LECT.   Ill, 

presumes  to  urge  it  as  a  reason,  why  a  person  of  more 
influence  and  authority  should  be  entrusted  with  the 
commission. 

He  considered  not,  that  formerly  he  acted  from  the 
impulse  of  his  own  mind  ;  with  indeed  an  upright  and 
benevolent  intention,  but  with  a  zeal  rather  too  bold 
and  impetuous  ;  whereas  now,  he  was  following  the 
direction  of  Providence,  and  was  therefore  certain  of 
success.  As  there  is  a  sinful  pride  which  urges  men 
to  seek  stations  and  employments,  to  which  they  have 
neither  pretensions,  title,  nor  qualification  ;  so  there  is 
a  sinful  humility,  which  shrinks  from  the  call  of  God, 
which,  in  the  guise  of  self-denial,  contains  the  spirit  of 
rebellion  and  disobedience  ;  and  which,  under  the  af- 
fectation of  undervaluing  and  debasing  our  o^vn  per- 
sons and  qualities,  indirectly  charges  God  with  foolish- 
ness, in  choosing  an  instrument  so  inapt  and  improper. 
Such  humility  is  of  the  very  essence  of  pride,  and  such, 
with  regret  we  observe  it,  was  the  spirit  by  which  Mo- 
ses was  on  this  occasion  actuated.  The  heavenly  vision 
removes  the  objection  at  once,  by  assuring  him  of  the 
divine  presence,  blessing  and  support ;  and  refers  him 
for  the  proof  of  it,  to  a  train  of  events  closely  succeed- 
ing each  other;  and  all  issuing  in  the  people's  assem- 
bling together,  in  that  very  spot,  to  worship,  after 
their  enlianchisement,  all  forming  a  chain  of  evidence, 
that  the  authority  under  which  he  acted  was  divine. 

Still  doubting  and  irresolute,  Moses  ventures  to 
urge  another  difficulty,  v^hich  he  expresses  in  these 
terms  ;  "  And  Moses  said  unto  God,  Behold,  when  I 
come  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  and  shall  sa}'  unto 
them,  The  God  of  your  fathers  hath  sent  me  unto 
you  :  and  they  shall  say  to  me,  What  is  his  name  ? 
What  sl^.all  I  say  unto  them  ■?"  God  had  iilready  de- 
clared his  name,  and  purpose,  and  given  his  charge, 
and  yet  Moses  dares  to  make  inquiry.  How  rare  a 
thing  it  is,  to  see  a  soul  wholly  resolved  into  the  will  of 
God !  How  seldom  do  we  find  a  faith  entirely  disposed 


LECT.   III.  HISTOllY   OF   MOSES.  45 

to  be,  to  do,  and  to  endure,  neither  more  nor  less  than 
Avhat  God  is  pleased  to  appoint !  But  the  incredulity 
and  presumption  of  Moses  shall  not  rer.der  thcdcsiL;ii 
ol'  God  of  none  cftect.  When  men  are  contradicted 
or  opposed,  they  fly  out,  and  storm,  and  threaten. 
But  the  great  God  bears  with  our  forwardness  and  folly, 
gives  way  to  our  scruples,  and,  yielding  to  our  obsti- 
nacy, overcomes  evil  with  good.  And  we  are  a'- 
most  tempted  to  rejoice  that  Moses  stood  out  so  long, 
as  it  gave  occasion  to  the  most  solemn  and  satisfying 
proclamation  of  the  name  and  nature  of  God,  from 
his  own  mouth,  and  the  most  amiable  and  engag- 
ing picture  of  tender  mercy  and  long-suffering  that 
ever  was  exhibited.  "  And  God  said  unto  Moses, 
I  AM  THAT  I  AM  :  And  he  said,  Thus  shalt  thou 
say  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  I  AM  haih  sent  me 
unto  you." 

What  flimsy  things  are  commissions  issued  under 
the  hand- writing  and  seals  of  kings,  compared  to  this  ! 
a  shred  of  parchment,  a  morsel  of  wax,  an  unmeaning 
scrawl ;  a  slender,  contracted,  short-lived  power,  de- 
legated from  one  worm  to  another.  Where  is  now 
the  signet  of  Ahasuerus,  which  pretended  to  commu- 
nicate irreversible  authority  to  the  writing  whereto  it 
was  afiixed  ?  Where  are  the  warrants  under  which  the 
statesmen  and  heroes  of  other  times  deliberated,  fought 
and  conquered  ?  With  the  princes  who  granted  them 
they  are  gone  to  oblivion.  They  were  what  they 
toere.  They  fulfilled  their  day,  and  then  they  fell 
asleep,  and  now  are  seen  no  more  !  What  avail  the 
long  list  of  empty  titles,  which  potentates  and  princes, 
in  the  pride  of  their  hearts,  affix  to  their  perishing- 
names  ?  All,  shrink  and  fade,  before  that  tremend- 
ous Power,  whose  authority  no  change  of  circum- 
stances can  affect,  whose  existence  no  succe-ssion  of 
ages  can  impair ;  who,  yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever 
still  proclaims  of  himself,   "  I  am." 

Nothing  can  equal  the  simplicit}',  sublimity  and 


.  46  HISTOBY   OF   MOSES.  LECT.   III. 

force  of  these  remarkable  words.  Independancy  of 
existence,  eternity  of  duration,  immutability  of  pur- 
pose, faithfulness  and  truth  in  keeping  covenant  and 
shewing  mercy,  are  all  conveyed  in  one  little  sen- 
tence, "  I  AM  THAT  I  AM."  Longinus,  the  cele- 
brated critic,  has  with  equal  judgment  and  taste, 
quoted  a  well  known  passage  from  the  writings  of 
Moses,  as  an  instance  of  the  true  sublime,  viz.  the 
first  words  pronounced  by  the  Creator  in  the  formation 
of  the  world,  "  And  God  said  let  there  be  light,  and 
there  was  light.**  Why  did  not  Longinus  dip  deeper 
into  the  works  of  this  great  historian  ;  why  did  he  not 
enrich  and  ejnbellish  his  own  beautiful  little  book,  and 
farther  approve  his  exquisite  taste,  by  inserting  other 
passages  from  the  page  of  inspiration,  particularly  the 
passage  under  review?  A  passage  which  Jews,  Hea- 
thens and  Christians,  as  one  man  have  consented  to 
admire. 

Under  the  sanction  of  this  most  awful  name,  God 
repeats  his  commission,  repeats  his  charge,  repeats 
his  promise  of  support,  assistance  and  success  :  suc- 
cess with  the  elders  of  Israel ;  success  with  the  peo- 
ple ;  success  against  Pharaoh.  And  yet,  Moses 
"  staggars  at  this  promise,"  "  although  it  be  the 
promise  of  the  Eternal,  through  unbelief!"  What 
have  we  most  to  wonder  at  here,  the  strange  incre- 
dulity and  perverseness  of  the  prophet^  or  the  singu- 
lar fidelity  and  exactness  of  the  historian^  in  record- 
ing his  own  c.rors  ?  God  has  said  "  they  j/z a// hear- 
ken to  thy  voice  ;"  yet  Moses  presumes,  in  the  face 
of  this  express  declaration,  to  gainsay  and  draw  back 

*'  And  Moses  answered,  and  said.  But  behold,  they 

ivill  not  believe  me  ;  nor  hearken  unto  my  voice  ;  for 
they  will  say,  the  LORD  hath  not  appeared  unto  thee." 
Surely  "  the  Lord  is  God,  and  not  man,  and  there- 
fore the  children  of  men  are  not  consumed."  A  man 
of  common  spirit  would  here  have  broken  off  the  con- 
ference, and  left  the  timid,  fro  ward   shepherd  to  his 


LECT.   III.  HISTORY   OF   MOSES.  47 

own  folly,  and  permitted  him  to  remain  destitute  of 
the  honor  which  he  obstinately  persevered  to  decline. 
But  it  pleased  God  to  shew  us  patience,  at  least  in  one 
instance,  too  powerful  for  unbelief:  "  for  his  ways 
are  not  like  our  ways,  nor  his  thoughts  as  our 
thoughts." 

He  who  would  cure  infidelity  in  ethers,  must  first 
be  purged  of  the  old  leaven  himself.  To  effect  this 
in  the  heart  of  his  servant  Moses,  God  vouchsafes  to 
perform  miracle  upon  miracle.  He  turns  the  rod 
which  was  in  the  hand  of  Moses  into  a  serpent ;  and 
from  a  serpent  to  a  rod  again  ;  in  order  to  intimate  to 
him  and  to  the  w^orld  that  the  most  harmless  things  be- 
come noxious,  and  the  most  pernicious  things  inno- 
cent, at  his  command.  His  hand  is  in  a  moment 
covered  with  leprosy,  and  in  a  moment  restored.... 
to  shew  the  power  of  God's  holy  law  to  fix  guilt  upon 
the  sinner,  and  of  his  grace  to  remove  it  from  the 
penitent.  He  is  enjoined  and  authorized  to  perform 
these  signs  before  all  Israel,  in  order  to  produce  that 
conviction  in  them,  which  they  had  fir^t  wrought 
upon  his  own  mind.  Should  these  still  happen  to 
fail,  he  is  permitted  to  go  a  step  farther.  Nature  shall 
submit  to  a  thorough  alteration,  rather  than  the  seed 
of  faithful  Abraham  continue  slaves  in  Egypt,  or  pe- 
rish through  unbelief.  AVater  shall  become  blood  be- 
fore their  eyes,  rather  than  the  blood  of  their  inno- 
cent children  be  poured  out  any  more  like  v.  ater  upon 
the  ground. 

And  now,  surely,  Moses  is  gained,  and  the  work 
of  God  shall  no  longer  stand  still.  Alas  !  the  sullen 
spirit  is  not  yet  subdued.  Though  forc€d  to  retreat, 
he  continues  to  fight  as  he  retires.  The  slowness  of 
Israel  to  believe,  w  as  formerly  the  plea  ;  now  his  own 
want  of  talents  is  urged  in  excuse  of  his  strange  back- 
wardness and  disobedience.  That  objection  too  is 
immediately  removed,  by  a  promise  of  wisdom  and 
eloquence  suited  to  the  occasion.     The  language  of 


48  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  Ill, 

the  oracle,  and  the  long-suffering  of  the  speaker  are 
miraculoiis  and  supernatural,  as  all  the  other  circum- 
stances of  the  case.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  him, 
Who  hath  made  man's  mouth  ?  or  who  maketh  the 
dumb,  or  deaf,  or  the  seeing,  or  the  blind  ?  Have  not 
I  the  Lord  ?  Now  therefore  go,  and  I  will  be  with  thy 
mouth,  and  teach  thee  what  thou  shalt  say,"  Exodus 
iv.  11,  12. 

'*  Wonder,  O  heavens,  and  be  astonished,  O  earth  !'' 
This  instead  of  producing  humble  submission  and  in- 
stantaneous compliance,  without  a  reason  and  without 
a  plea,  meets  with  a  direct  refusal ;  "  O  my  Lord, 
send  I  pray  thee,  by  the  hand  of  him  whom  thou  wilt 
send."  And  now  what  heart  does  not  tremble  for 
fear,  that  the  fire  which  had  spared  the  bush,  should 
"wax  hot,  to  punish  the  madness  of  the  prophet  ? 
What  patience  can  endure  sucha  repetition  of  insult? 
The  anger  of  the  Lord  was  kindled  against  Moses ; 
and. ...and  what  ?  O  it  becomes  a  flame  of  love  to  melt 
his  heart,  and  purify  it  of  its  dross.  "  The  anger  of 
the  Lord  was  kindled  against  Moses,  and  he  said.  Is 
not  Aaron  the  Levite  thy  brother  ?  I  know  that  he  can 
speak  W'tll.  And  also  behold,  he  corneth  forth  to  meet 
thee  ;  and  when  he  seeth  thee,  he  will  be  glad  in  his 
heart."  Providence  had  all  this  while  been  preparing 
a  concluding,  a  convincing  proof  of  power,  wisdom 
and  goodness  inconceivable.  Lo,  Aaron  is  already  far 
advanced  on  his  way  from  Egypt,  in  quest  of  his  bro- 
ther. 

That  after  so  long  an  interval,  throupji  a  field  of  so 
m.any  chances,  he  should  at  that  veiy  instant  of  time 
arrive.... How  is  is  it  to  be  accounted  for  ?  On  no  other 
principle  but  this,  the  Lord  is  "  wonderful  in  counsel, 
and  excellent  in  working."  "  He  secth  the  end  from 
the  beginning."  He  saith  "  My  counsel  shall  stand, 
and  I  will  fulfil  all  my  pleasure."  "  He  doth  accord- 
ing to  his  will  in  the  armies  of  heaven,  and  among  the 
inhabitants  of  the  earth.''     Let  every  knee  bow,  let 


i 

I 


LECT.   in.  IflSTORY  OF  MOSES.  4,9 

every  ton<^ue  confess,  let  every  heart  adore  and  love 
and  submit. 

Most's  is  at  length  subdued,  and  we  stand  with 
astonishment  and  joy  to  contemplate  the  triumph  of 
mercy  over  judgment.  God  grant  we  may  improve 
the  example  of  his  divine  patience  as  a  pattern.  God 
in  mercy  preserve  lis  from  presuming  upon  it,  as  an 
encouragement  to  offend.  And  may  God  bless  what 
has  been  spoken.     Amen. 


VOL.  II. 


cjis 


HISTORY  OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  IV. 

And  Moses  spake  so  unto  the  children  of  Israd  ;  but 
they  hearkened  ?iot  unto  MoseSy  Jar  anguish  of  spi- 
rit, and  for  cruel  bondage. ...YjXodusyi.  9. 

EVERY  nation  has  in  its  history  events  of  peculiar 
importance,  which  latest  posteiity  is  disposed 
fondly  t<j  commemorate.  But  the  memoiy  of  remark- 
able deliverances  is  necessarily  blended  with  the  recol- 
lection of  heavy  distress  or  imminent  danger,  and 
whether  as  men,^  or  as  citizens,  we  greatly  rejoice,  by 
that  very  joy  we  expressly  declare  that  we,  or  our 
fathers,  once  had  cause  to  mourn.  Perpetual  sun- 
shine suits  not  the  state  of  the  natural  world  ;  per- 
petual success  is  by  no  means  favorable  either  to  hu- 
man happiness  or  virtue.  Hunger  is  necessary  to 
give  a  relish  to  food  ;  the  gloom  of  winter  is  the  hap- 
piest recommendation  of  the  cheerfulness  and  bloom 
of  spring.  We  discover  the  value  of  health  by  disease  ; 
and  the  blessings  of  peace  would  be  but  half  under- 
stood, were  it  not  for  the  antecedent  anxieties  and 
calamities  of  war.  Men  therefcre  act  foolishly  as 
well  as  impiously  when  they  charge  the  wise,  righteous 
and  merciful  Governor  of  the  world,  with  carelessness 
or  unkindness,  because  he  admits  into  the  system  of 
his  works,  or  into  his  moral  government  of  the  uni- 
verse, what  ignorance  calls  disorder,  what  presumption 
erics  down  as  unnecessary,  and  pride  condemns  as  un- 
just. 


lECT.   IV.  KISTORY   OV  MOSES.  Si 

What  so  irregular  at  first  sight,  and  always  so  to  the 
vulgar  eye,  as  the  face  of  the  starry  heavens  ?  A 
handiLii  of  little  sparks,  scattered  at  random  in  the  air  ! 
But  to  the  attentive,  enquiring,  enlightened  spirit, 
they  present  a  vast  com'oiuation  of  worlds,  each  in  its 
place,  every  one  moving  in  its  proper  orbit ;  the 
whole  possessing  every  quality  that  can  at  once  excite 
astonishment  and  inspire  delight ;  greatness,  order, 
beauty,  harmony,  utility  ]  Tney  present  excellencies 
obvious  to  the  slightest  observation  of  the  most  shal- 
low understanding  ;  excellencies  uudiscoverable  by 
the  closest  investigation  of  the  most  penetrating  ge- 
nius. Now,  clownish  thoughtlessness  and  stupidity 
is  not  more  incompetent  to  judge  of  the  order  and 
frame  of  nature,  than  passion  and  prejudice,  by  which 
all  men  are  governed,  are  to  determine  upon  the  wis- 
dom and  goodness  of  the  ways  of  Providence.  Every 
man  would  have  every  thing  bend  to  his  humor,  con- 
veniency,  indolence  or  interest.  This  would  produce, 
were  it  permitted,  endless  confusion  and  misery,  did 
not  God  overrule  and  employ  the  activity  and  the  in- 
dolence, the  senseless  caprices  and  the  jarring  interests 
of  men  to  execute  his  purposes,  and  without  their 
intention,  nay,  in  spite  of  their  efforts,  making  them 
productive  of  regularity,  stability  and  happiness. 

In  contemplating,  therefore,  agents  and  events, 
those  of  which  we  have  heard  and  read,  or  those 
which  we  see  and  in  which  we  are  concerned,  the 
only  road  to  composure  and  improvement  is,  to  con- 
sider the  whole  as  the  work  of  a  supreme,  intelligent, 
almighty,  invisible  Agent,  who  is  carrying  on  a  plan 
which  we  comprehend  not,  or  understand  only  in  part, 
and  who,  from  all  that  we  can  know  of  him  from 
nature,  from  experience  and  from  revelation,  takes  de- 
light in  shewing  mercy  and  doing  good,  but  who,  in  the 
exercise  of  even  these  gracious  prerogatives,  governs 
not  himself  by  the  partial  lights,  hasty  conceptions  and 
eontracted  vievrs  of  ignorant,  erring  men,  but  by  his 


58  HISTORY  or  MOSES.  LECT.   IV, 

own  all-eomprehending  intelligence,  all-pervading  be- 
nignity, all-sLibding  love. 

Jf,  in  that  portion  of  ancient  history  which  is  now 
to  come  under  our  consideration,  we  observe  Provi- 
dence treating  one  nation  with  uncommon  severity,  and 
another  with  indulgence  altogether  a^^  smgular,  we  are 
to  regard  the  parties  not  as  they  are  in  themselves,  or  in 
relation  to  each  other,  but  in  their  relat'^^.on  to  God  and 
to  mankind  in  general,  as  an  important  link  in  the  great 
chain  of  Providence,  as  serving  and  instructing  the 
human  race  to  the  end  of  the  world.  The  perverseness 
and  unbelief  of  Moses  met  with  pity  and  forgiveness, 
and  were  cured  by  a  series  of  miracles.  The  impiety 
and  unbelief  of  Pharaoh  met  with  resentment  and 
punishment,  and  were  even  confirmed  and  strengthened 
by  a  most  awful  series  of  miracles  ;  not  for  the  sake  of 
Moses  and  Pharaoh  merely,  but  to  illustrate  in  the  eyes 
of  the  whole  world  the  goodness  and  severity  of  God  ; 
the  wisdom  and  safety  of  repentance  and  submission  on 
the  one  hand,  the  madness  and  danger  of  impenitence 
on  the  other.  Egypt  was  plagued,  and  Israel  saved, 
that  violence  and  cruelty  might  be  awakened  to  see 
the  naked  sword  of  justice  suspended  by  a  single  hair 
over  its  guilty  throat ;"  and  tliat  misery  and  depression 
might  find  a. refuge  from  despair. 

We  iiave  seen  with  what  solemnity  the  commission 
to  Moses  for  the  deliverance  of  Israel  was  granted, 
and  the  awful  seal  which  was  appended  to  it ;  even  the 
great  and  fearful  name, Jehovah,  "I  am  t h  a t I  a m . ' * 
We  have  seen  the  backwardness,  irresolution  and 
timidity  of  the  prophet,  in  undertaking  an  employ- 
ment so  flittering  to  ambition,  so  desirable  to  the  spi- 
rit of  patriotism,  so  elevating  to  a  mind  awake  to  the 
influence  of  religion.  We  have  seen  the  goodness 
and  condescension  of  God  in  deigning,  by  repeated 
exertions  of  power  --uid  mercy,  to  remove  the  scruples 
and  level  the  objections  of  incredulity  and  fear.  And 
\vc  have  t,etn  Aaron,  the  brother  of  ^Ioses,  providen- 


lECT.   IV.  HISTORY   OJ   MOSES.  35 

tially  conducted  to  the  spot,  and  at  the  moment,  to 
establish  a  belief  in  the  divine  power  and  veracitv, 
to  confirm  the  wavering,  trembliui^-  soul,  and  consti- 
tuted to  a  share  of  the  diligence,  difficulty,  danger 
and  glory  ot"  the  illustrious  enterprize. 

Behold  the  two  plain  old  men,  one  of  cightV)  and 
the  other  of  eighty-three  years  oU,  setting  out  from 
the  deserts  of  Arabia,  on  an  unlertaking  to  human 
reason  the  most  wild  and  romantic  th  it  ever  was  at- 
tempted  ;  to  persuade  or  to  constrain  one  of  the  most 
powerful  princes  of  the  world,  to  enfranchise,  n.iy,  to 
dismiss  the  tenth  part  of  his  most  valuable  and  useful 
subjects  !  And  how  are  they  provided  for  this  vast  un- 
dertaking ?  The  pleas  of  reason,  the  pov/ers  cf  elo- 
quence, the  calls  of  humanity,  the  claims  of  justice, 
it  is  well  known,  make  but  a  feeble  impression  on  the 
hearts  of  kings,  when  their  pride,  ambition  or  inter- 
est oppose.  For  such  a  vast  multitude  to  slip  away 
by  stealth  is  impossible,  and  to  think  of  forcing  an 
escape  from  a  power  so  greatly  superior  is  rashness 
and  ruin.  When  men  engage  in  hazardous  and  diffi- 
cult expeditions,  they  levy  armies,  accumulate  trea- 
sure, provide  magazines,  strengthen  themselves  with 
alliances.  But  when  God  addresses  himself  to  action, 
we  behold  no  apparatus,  no  effort.  Is  an  universe  to 
start  out  of  nothing?  "  God  speaks,  and  it  is  done." 
Is  a  sun  to  arise,  and  light  to  shine  ?  God  says,  "  Let 
there  be  light."  Is  a  great  nation  to  be  subdued,  and 
a  little  one  asserted  into  liberty  *?  Our  eyes  are  direct- 
ed, not  to  a  general  at  the  head  of  a  mighty  host,  but 
to  a  shepherd  with  his  crook  in  his  hand. 

But  the  commands  of  Heaven  break  not  in  upon 
the  sacred  duties  and  the  virtuous  charities  of  private 
life.  The  charge  given  to  Moses  was  pressing,  the 
object  most  important,  and  the  authority  under 
which  it  was  issued,  supreme  ;  but  yet  he  is  permit- 
ted to  return  for  a  little  while,  to  attend  the  calls  of 
nature,  of  gratitude,  to  the  gentle  claims  of  fiiiiil  piety, 


$4t  HISTORY   or   MOSES.  LECT.  IV. 

of  conjugal  and  paternal  affection.  He  went  back  to 
his  father-in-law  to  acknowledge  his  pivjtectlon,  hos- 
pitality and  kindness  to  him  when  a  stranger,  to  inform 
Iiim  of  the  extraordinary  commission  he  had  just  re- 
ceived, and  the  necessity  he  was  thereby  laid  un:ier  of 
immediately  entering  upon  the  execution  of  it ;  to 
obtain  his  consent  for  this  purpose,  and  to  ask  his  pa- 
ternal benediciion.  Religion  is  in  a  happy  state  in  the 
soul  of  that  man  ;  who  has  learned  to  unite  and  re- 
concile the  views  and  pursuits  of  ths  citizen  with  those 
of  the  private  min,  who  pleads  not  the  performance  of 
one  duty  as  an'  excuse  for  the  omission  of  another; 
whose  life  exhibits  every  moral  and  divine  principle  in 
action,  every  one  in  his  season,  every  op.^  in  his  place. 
How  simple  and  affectionate  the  dismission  which 
honest  Rignel  gave  to  Moses,  compared  to  that  of  the 
scliish  rapacious  Laban  to  Jacob  :  Gen.  xxxi.  25,  &c. 
*'  Go  in  peace  !"  says  Raguei ;  an  adieu  expressive  at 
once  of  submission  to  the  will  of  Providence,  and  of 
affection  to  his  son-in-law,  mixed  with  regret  at  the 
thought  of  parting  with  him. 

It  pleased  G  J  D  agiin  to  confirm  the  confidence  of 
Moses,  by  assuring  him  that  all  who  had  ever  harbor- 
ed a  design  against  his  life  were  now  dead ;  and  that 
nothing  therefjre  rem  lined,  but  to  address  himself 
boldly  to  his  great  work.  Accompanied  with  his  wife 
and  two  sons,  he  leaves  the  land  of  Midian,  and  pro- 
ceeds towards  Egypt. 

On  his  journey,  a  very  extraordinary  incident  oc- 
curs:  but  the  conciseness  of  the  sacred  history  leaves 
it  involved  in  much  darkness  and  difficulty.  God 
had  blessed  him  with  two  sons  in  Midian,  whom  in 
compliance  with  the  commandment  of  God,  and  as  a 
son  of  Abraham,  he  ought  to  have  circumcised  on 
the  eighth  day  from  their  birth.  This  however,  either 
for  want  of  the  proper  minister,  from  inattention,  or 
out  of  improper  respect  to  the  feelings  or  prejudices 
of  Zipporah  his  wifc^  or  some  other  reason   that  ap- 


L£CT.  If.        HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  55 

pears  not,  had  been  hitherto  wholly  neglected;  and 
thereby  his  children,  the  youns^erat  least,  through  his 
neglect,   seems  to  have  incurred  the  dreadful  penalty 
denounced  bv  the  terms  of  the  covenant  against  un- 
circamcised  persons,   that  of  being  "  cut  off  from  his 
people."     This  punishment   God  seems  disposed  to 
exact  at  the  hand  of  Moses  himself,   wht?  was  indeed 
the    guilty    person,   by   attacking    him   either   with  a 
threatening  bodily   distemper,  by   semorse  of  consci- 
ence for  his  criminal  neglect,  by  the  appearance  of  an 
avenging  angel,   or  some  other  sensible  token  cf  dis- 
pleasure.    Bat  the  difliculty  is,   Why  the  conduct  of 
Moses  in  this  respect  was  never  called  in  question  be- 
fore?   Why  he  was  not  purged  of  diis  guilt  before  he 
was  honored  at  all  v\  ith  the  divire  commission  ?  Why 
the  precept  was  enforced  upon  a  journey,  and  at  an  inn, 
where  the  operation  could  be  performed  'ess  commo- 
diously,  and    was   accompanied  with  some  degree  of 
danger?  What  could  Zipporah  mean  when  siie  re- 
proached Moses  as  "  a  bloody  husband  V*  The  passage 
is  evidently  enveloped  in  much  obscurity  ;   and  proba- 
bly with  design.      Instead  of  curiously  in  uiring  into 
its  hidden  meaning,  an  attempt  vain  and  unprofitable, 
we  may,  by  the  blessing  of  God,   learn  from  it  more 
than  one   practical  lesson,  neitlier  obscure  nor  unim- 
portant ;   and  this,  no  dolibt,  the  Spirit  of  God  prin- 
cipally intended.     The  first  is,  that  no  circumstances 
of  prudence  or  conveniency  can  ever  be  with  propriety 
urged  as  a  dispensation  with  a  clearly  commanded  duty. 
Secondly,  that  as  there  may  be  a  sinful  undervaluing 
of  the  feelings,  prejudices  and  inclinations  of  our  near 
and  dear  relations,  so  there  may  be  a  sinful  tenderness 
for,  and  compliance  with  them,  to  the  neglect  of  God's 
known  and  declared  wilL  and  at  the  risk  of  falling  un- 
der his  just  censure.     Thirdly,   that  he   who  is  to  be 
the  interpreter  of  the  law  to  others,  ought  in  all  points 
to   be   blameless,   and  in  all  things  conformed  to  the 
law  himself.     To  which  we  may  add  yet  a  fourth,  not 


56  lirSTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  IV. 

of  less  importance  than  any  of  these  ;  namely,  that 
when  God  has  procured  the  proper  respect  to  his  re- 
vealed will,  the  controversy  between  him  and  the  of- 
fender is  at  an  end,  the  object  of  his  government  be- 
injy  not  so  much  to  avenge  himself  as  to  amend  the 
criminal. 

This  scene  of  domestic  danger  and  distress  is  spee- 
dily followed  by  another  of  a  pleasanter  kind,  namely, 
the  interview  between  the  t\\  o  brothers,  in  the  w  ilder- 
ness  ;  an  interview  attended  with  many  circumstances 
to  render  it  mutually  interesting  and  satisfactory.  It 
must  have  been  highly  gratifying  to  Moses,  after  liv- 
ing forty  years  among  strangers,  to  meet  his  own  bro- 
ther, to  receive  particular  information  concerning  his 
family  and  nation,  and  to  communicate  to  a  friendl)'" 
ear  the  knowledge  of  his  own  situation  during  so  long 
an  interval.  What  must  it  have  been,  on  the  other 
hand,  to  Aaron,  to  learn  from  the  mouth  of  his  brother 
the  great  designs  rf  Providence  respecting  themselves 
and  their  people?  With  what  ovcrllo wings  of  heart 
would  they  mingle  their  sighs  and  te:irs  !  With  what 
ardor  would  their  united  prayers,  and  vows,  and  praises 
ascend  to  heaven?  How  confirmed  the  faith,  how  for- 
ward the  zeal  of  each,  strengthened  and  stimulated  by 
that  of  the  other  !  They  go  on  their  way  rejoicing ; 
they  arc  following  God,  and  they  must  prosper. 

Mioses  had  found  the  evidence  of  his  divine  mission 
comf-leated,  in  the  opportune  arrival  of  his  brother 
Aaron,  according  to  the  declaration  of  the  oracle  at 
the  bush  ;  and  he  soon  finds  a  resolution  of  his  first 
doubt,  in  the  very  entrance  upon  the  discharge  of  his 
cilice.  Compare  the  first,  and  the  two  last  verses  of 
this  4th  chapter,  and  see  what  a  contrast  they  form  to 
one  another.  "  And  Moses  answered,  and  said,  But 
behold,  they  will  not  believe  me,  nor  hearken  unto 
my  voice  :  for  they  will  say.  The  Lord  hath  not  ap- 
peared unto  thee."  "  And  Aaron  spake  all  the  words 
which  the  Lord  had  spoken  unto  Moses,  and  did  the 


LECT.   IV.  HISTORY  OF   MOSES.  57 

signs  in  the  sight  of  the  people.  And  the  people  be- 
lieved :  and  when  they  heard  that  the  Lord  had  visit- 
ed the  children  of  Israel,  and  that  he  had  looked  upon 
their  afliiction,  then  they  bowed  their  heads  and  wor- 
shipped. The  tremendous  name  JEHOVAH  af- 
fixed as  a  signet  to  the  record,  and  vouching  its  au- 
thority bv  sign  upon  sign,  quickly  produces  belief : 
and  inspires  gratitude  and  joy,  corrected  by  reverence 
and  godly,  fear.  So  far  then,  the  way  is  cleared,  and 
Moses  is  no  longer  rejected  as  an  upstart  and  intruder, 
as  presuming  to  take  upon  himself  the  office  of  prince 
and  judge  over  his  brethren. 

But  this  is  the  smallest  difficulty  in  the  way.  Who 
does  not  eagerly  cleave  to  the  prospect  of  returning 
liberty  ?  Men  believe  things  incredible,  attempt  things 
impossible,  endure  things  intolerable,  when  freedom, 
precious  freedom  is  the  object.  No  wonder  then  that 
oppressed,  groaning  Israel  should  greedily  listen  to  the 
voice  of  this  heavenly  charmer.  But  the  grand  dif- 
ficulties are  yet  behind.  Their  fetters  will  not  fall  oiF 
by  a  wish.  Their  fond  desires  dictate  not  the  edicts 
of  Pharaoh.  The  smarting  of  the  strokes  of  their 
task-masters'  whips  are  not  to  be  conjured  away  by  a 
sound.  The  question  is  not,  will  Israel  believe  ?  but 
will  the  king  of  Egypt  comply  ?  Every  step  Moses  ad- 
vances, he  finds  a  new  and  growing  proof  of  the  truth 
and  fliith fulness  of  God.  For  the  same  mouth  which 
declared  concerning  the  children  of  Israel,  ''  they  shall 
hearken  unto  thy  voice,"  declared  concerning  Pharaoh, 
"  I  am  sure  that  the  king  of  Egypt  will  not  let  you  go, 
no  not  by  a  mighty  hand."  The  faith  and  obedience 
of  the  one,  therefore,  and  the  insolence  and  pride  of 
the  other,  equally  and  conjointly  demonstrated  to  Mo- 
ses, that  the  Lord  had  spo'-en  unto  him. 

Armed,  therefore,  with  a  command  from  on  high, 
confident  of  the  goodness  of  their  cause,  and  exalted 
above  the  fear  of  man,  Moses  and  his  brother  advance 
boldly  into  the  presence  of  the  king,  and  make  their 

VOL.   II.  H 


5i  HISTORY   0?    MOSES.  LECT.   IV, 

requisition  in  tiiese  lofty  and  majestic  words  ;  "  Thus 
saith  the  Loud  God  of  Israel,  Let  my  people  go,  that 
they  may  hold  a  feast  unto  me  in  the  wilderness.'' 

In  some  ancient  Jewish  fragment,  we  have  an  ac- 
count of  four  miracles,  by  which  Moses  signalized 
his  entrance  into  Egypt.  First,  he  made  fire  to  issue 
out  of  the  earth,  in  the  eyes  of  all  Israel,  and  thereby 
produced  confidence  in  him  as  their  deliverer.  Se- 
condly, being  shut  up  in  prison  by  order  of  J^haraoh, 
he  brake  the  bars,  burst  open  the  gates,  struck  the 
guards  with  death,  and  released  himself.  Thirdly, 
he  pronounced  in  ,the  ears  of  the  king,  the  name  of 
JEHOVAH.... at  the  sound  of  which  that  prince  be- 
came deaf,  and  after  a  certain  interval  recovered,  liis 
hearing,  through  the  interposition  of  him  who  had 
taken  it  away.  Fourthly,  by  the  use  of  the  same 
awful  name,  he  deprived  all  the  Egyptian  priests  of 
sejise  and  motion.  To  this  the  Rabbins  add,  that  on 
entering  the  palace  of  the  tyrant,  he  was  suddenly 
clothed  with  a  dreadful  form,  and  a  countenance 
bright  and  majestic,  like  that  of  an  angel.  But  we 
have  no  need  to  resort  to  fancy  for  a  description  of 
the  magnificence  of  the  scene,  neither  is  there  reason 
to  suppose  that  any  part  of  the  plory  of  Moses  con- 
sisted in  personal  lustre.  His  employer  and  his  errand 
lend  him  sufficient  dignity  and  importance,  without 
the  glare  v/hich  dazzles  the  eye. 

Whatever  were  the  outward  appearance  of  Moses, 
his  message,  we  know,  was  treated  by  Pharaoh  with 
insolence  and  contempt,  in  these  words ;  "  Who  is 
the  Lord,  that  I  should  obey  his  voice,  to  let  Israel 
go  ?  I  know  net  the  Lord,  neither  will  I  let  Israel 
go."  We  are  not  to  conclude  that  Pharaoh  was  an 
atheist,  from  his  using  this  impious  language.  No  ; 
Egypt  was  a  country  wholly  given  to  superstition  ;  a 
land  which  had  multiplied  deities  to  itself.  It  w-as 
Jehovah  whom  he  scorned  to  acknowledge.  It  was 
the  God  of  Israel  whom  he  despised.     He  judged  of 


I.ECT.   IV.  HISTORY   OF   MOSES.  59 

the  power  of  their  Patron  and  Protector  from   their 
own  present  foilorn  condition. 

The  methods  which  Moses  and  Aaron  employed  to 
obtain  the  end  of  their  mission,  is  a  bcaiitifnl  and  an 
instructive,  and  an  alarming  ronrcsentation  of  the  con- 
duct of  Providence,  towards  sinners  in  general.  Tliey 
begin  with  delivering  a  plain  message,  in  the  name  of 
their  master.  Being  repulsed,  they  proceed  to  argue 
and  expostulate.  A  deaf  ear  being  turned  to  the  voice 
of  reason  and  humanity,  the}^  have  recourse  to  more 
extraordinary  proofs  of  the  weight  and  authority  of 
their  commission  ;  proofs  which,  indeed,  mark  an 
Almighty  arm  ;  but  an  arm  stretched  out  to  convince, 
not  to  crush.  A  bold  defiance  beinar  uiven  to  Omni- 
potence,  what  other  method  of  working  conviction 
and  of  procuring  respect  is  left,  but  to  let  it  fall  with 
all  its  dreadful  weioht  on  the  head  of  the  defter  ? 

t_j 

It  happened  to  Israel,  as  it  often  does  to  men  strug- 
gling to  get  free  from  the  pressure  of  calamity,  their 
efforts  only  serve  to  plunge  them  deeper  in  the  mire; 
and  it  happened  to  Moses  and  Aaron,  as  it  sometimes 
befalls  men  actuated  by  a  similar  good  intention,  but 
with  less  title  and  encouragement,  their  interference 
hurts  those  whom  it  was  meant  to  serve  ;  and  they  have 
the  mortification  of  seeing  the  miseries  of  their  poor 
brethren  cruelly  increased,  through  what  might  be 
deemed  their  own  zeal  and  officiousness.  The  in- 
flexible tyrant  avenges  himself,  for  the  freedom  taken 
with  the  king  of  Egypt,  by  persons  so  low  and  con- 
temptible, upon  the  bleeding  shoulders  of  thousands 
of  wretches,  who  could  not  redress  themselves,  and 
who  durst  not  complain.  Miserable  condition  indeed  ! 
where  the  caprice  of  one  man  determines  the  fate  of 
millions  !  Happy  the  nation  where  not  men  but  laws 
govern ! 

Providence,  in  this  instance,  seems  resolved  to  try 
how  far  savage  cruelty  and  patient  suflfering  can  go  "? 


60  HISTORY   OP    MOSES.  LECT.    lY. 

but  ready  to  interfere  in  both,  when  they  have  come 
to  the  extreme.  Israel  is  not  prepared  for  salvation, 
till  the  cup  of  woe  is  full,  and  deli\e;ance  is  despair- 
ed of  from  every  quarter  save  Heaven  :  apid  Pharaoh 
feels  not  the  rod  of  God's  anger,  till  having  filled  up 
the  measure  of  his  iniquity,  heardened  his  heart  against 
God  and  against  man,  poured  contempt  upon  mercy, 
and  braved  infinite  justice,  he  exalts  himself  into  an 
awful  monument  to  every  impenitent  sinner  of  the 
desperate  madness  of  fightinp;  with  his  Maker. 

Moses  is  ready  to  sink  afresh,  under  this  cruel  disap- 
pointment. The  reproaches  of  the  unhappy  sufferers, 
called,  forced,  lashed'  into  labor,  beyond  what  their 
strength  could  bear,  cut  him  to  the  heart,  and  again 
he  shrinks  from  the  task  which  was  imposed  on  him  : 
and  in  these  desponding  words,  he  ventures  to  pour 
out  the  anguish  of  his  soul  before  the  Lord  ;  "  Where- 
fore hast  thou  so  evil  entreated  this  people  ?  Why  is  it 
that  thou  has  sent  me  ?  For  since  I  came  to  Pharaoh 
to  speak  in  thj-  name  he  hath  done  evil  to  this  people, 
neither  hast  thou  delivered  thy  people  at  all." 

Thus  far  has  flowed  the  angry  tide  of  proud  imperi- 
ous passion  ;  and  thus  low  has  ebbed  the  trembling, 
retreatin'5:  stream  of  baffled  expectation.  And  now, 
"  It  is  time,  Lord,  that  thoa  work  V'  To  the  one  he 
saith,  "  Hitherto  shalt  thou  come,  but  no  farther,  and 
here  shall  thy  proud  waves  be  stayed."  To  the  other, 
"  Return,  and  fill  ail  thy  channels,  and  overflow  all 
thy  banks." 

The  ange!  of  the  Lord  begins  with  re-assuring  Mo- 
ses himself,  by  a  recapitulation  of  the  tenor  of  the 
covenant  made  with  Abraham,  Lsaac,  and  Jacob,  un- 
der the  sanction  of  his  name  as  the  Lord  God  Al- 
mighty. In  all  these  wandeiings,  weaknesses  and 
distresses,  they  had  been  encouraged  to  trust  in  a  Be- 
ing, omnipotent  to  protect  them,  ail-sufficient  to  sup- 
ply their  wants.     But   their  posterity  were  henceforth 


LECT.    IV.  HISTORY    OF    MOSES.  01 

to  know  him  by  another  name,  and  under  a  new  de- 
scription, even  the  iiiconimunicable,  unutlcrable 
name,  which  denotes  eternal,  uncluingeable,  sclt-ex- 
istcnce  ;  deriving  nothing  from  any,  but  conferring 
upon  all,  hfe,  and  bieath,  and  all  things  ;  who  is  above 
all,  through  all,  and  in  all  ;  "  the  same  yesterday,  to- 
day, and  forever:"  and,  of  consequence,  true  to  liis 
word,  faithful  in  keeping  covenant,  unalterable  in  his 
decrees ! 

Under  the  seal  of  that  most  tremendous,  most  ani- 
mating and  inspiring  name,  Moses  is  again  disj^atch- 
ed  to  the  people,  with  the  assurance  of  a  speedy,  an 
instantaneous  appearance  in  their  behalf.  But  alas  ! 
their  spirit  is  broken,  by  the  long  continuance  and  ac- 
cumulated weight  of  their  calamities.  They  ha\'e 
been  disappointed  so  often,  that  they  can  believe,  can 
hope  no  longer  ;  and  the  message  delivered  by  Moi^es 
is  like  a  charming  song  upon  the  ear  of  a  deaf  oi-  a 
dead  man.  He  is  sent  from  the  people  to  Pharaoh, 
with  a  repetition  of  the  demand  of  Heaven  upon  him. 
But  alas  !  the  messenger  himself  has  caught  the  des- 
ponding spirit  of  the  unhappy  men  whom  he  had  been 
last  visiting;  and  the  heart  of  Pharaoh  has  not  in  the 
least  relented.  Hea\'en  seems  to  have  interposed 
somewhat  too  late  ;  the  cause  appears  lost.  Let  us 
judge  nothing  rashly  ;  let  us  not  judge  before  the 
time.  Let  us  humbly  and  patiently  v/ait  the  issue, 
and  then  condemn  if  we  dare,  if  v.  e  caii. 

Moses  at  the  bush  saw  God,  under  the  appearance 
of  a  flame  of  fire  ;  but  no  man  can  see  God  and  live. 
"  No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time  :  the  only  be- 
gotten Son,  which  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  he 
hath  declared  him."  The  deliverer  of  Israel  needed 
himself  to  be  nurtured  and  prepared  for  the  discharge 
of  his  high  office  ;  but  the  Saviour  of  a  lo!-:t  u  orld  en- 
tered upon  the  execution  of  his  iuunitelv  more  aidii- 
ous  task,  every  way  qualified  to  bring  it  to  a  happy 
conclusion.     The  Jewish  lawgiver  stood  hiuiself  con- 


62  HISTORY   OF   MOSES.  LECT.   IV. 

demned  by  the  law,  and  was  a  partaker  with  others  in 
guilt  and  transgression ;  the  Christian  Leader  was 
*'  holy  harmless  and  undefiled."  Moses  undertook 
the  work  assigned  to  him,  slowly  and  reluctlantly  ; 
but,  O,  with  what  readiness  did  the  friend  of  mankind 
press  forward  to  the  perfecting  of  his  kind  design ; 
"  Lo  I  come  :  in  the  volume  of  die  book  it  is  written 
of  me  :  I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  O  my  God  :  yea, 
thy  law  is  within  my  heart,"  Psalm  xl.  7,  8.  *'  I 
have  a  baptism  to  be  baptised  with,  and  how  am  I 
straitened  till  it  be  accomplished  ?"  Luke  xii.  50.... 
And  yet  there  was  no  shame,  no  pain,  no  cross  in  the 
way  of  Moses  ;  whereas  the  Captain  of  salvation  was 
to  be  "made  perfect  through  sufferings;"  neverthe- 
less, he  advanced  undismayed  to  the  combat.  "  With 
desire  I  have  desired  to  eat  this  passover  with  you  be- 
fore I  suffer,"  ib.  xxii.  15.  Moses  frequently  refiled 
from  the  conflict,  shrunk  from  the  difficulty  and  dan- 
ger, failed  in  the  hour  of  trial ;  but  our  great  Leader 
and  Commander  went  on  "  conquering  and  to  con- 
quer ;"  turned  not  back  ;  desisted  not  from  doing  and 
from  suffering,  till  he  could  say  ''  It  is  finished.'^'* 
The  sun  of  righteousness  shineth  in  his  strength,  let 
every  star  hide  his  diminished  head.  To  him  be 
glory  forever  and  ever.     Amen. 


HISTORY  OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  V. 

The  Lord  said  unlo  Aloses,  N'ozu  shall  tliou  see  zvhat 
I  will  do  nn(o  Pliai'oah  ;  for  ivith  a  stron<^  hand 
shall  lie  let  them  go,  and  ivilh  a  strong  hand  shall 
he  drive  them  out  of  his  land....Y.xoDus  \i.  1. 

THE  history  of  the  divine  conduct  is  the  best  illus- 
tration of  the  nature  of  God.  Do  we  desire  to 
know  what  the  Supreme  Being  is  P  \Vt  have  but  to 
consider  what  he  does.  Are  we  anxious  to  be  satisfi- 
ed of  the  truth  of  the  declarations  made  by  the  great 
Jehovah  concerning  himself  in  his  word?  Let  us 
compare  them  with  the  history  and  experience  of  men 
in  every  age.  The  proofs  of  the  divine  goodness  and 
mercy  are  written  in  characters  so  fair,  and  are  so  fre- 
quently presented  to  our  view,  that  not  to  observe 
them  must  argue  the  grossest  stupidity  and  inattention ; 
and  not  to  acknowledge,  love  and  adore  the  glorious 
Source  of  that  uribounded  goodness,  m.ust  argue  the 
blackest  ingratitude.  When  the  Lord  makes  himself 
known  by  the  Judgments  which  he  executes,  we  see 
him  advancing,  to  use  the  ideas  and  the  language  of 
men,  with  slow  and  reluctant  bteps.  When  misery  is 
to  be  relieved,  benefits  conferred,  or  sins  forgiven, 
the  blessing  outruns  the  expectation,  nay,  even  desire. 
But,  when  the  wicked  are  to  be  punished,  justice 
seems  to  regret  the  necessity  under  which  it  is  laid, 
and  the  sinner  is  not  destroyed  till,  to  his  own  convic- 
tion, his  condemnation  is  acquitted  of  unrighteous- 


64  IIISTOllY   OF   MOSES.  LECT.   V. 

iiess,  and  till  every  thing  around  him   calls  for  ven- 
geance. 

The  wickedness  of  the  old  world  was  so  great,  that 
God  is  said  to  have  "  repented  that  he  had  made  man." 
Nevertheless  after  God  had  threatened  to  destroy  the 
human  race  with  a  -deluge,  a  reprieve  of  many  years 
is  G^ranted,  to  afford  space  and  means  for  averting  the 
calamity  by  repentance.  Abraham  was  permitted, 
nay,  encouraged,  to  intercede  for  the  sinful,  the  de- 
voted cities  of  the  plain  of  Jordan  ;  and  the  righteous- 
ness of  so  small  a  number  as  five  persons  would  have 
saved  the  whole  people  of  those  regions.  The  nations 
of  Canaan  were  not  expelled, .to  make  way  for  Israel, 
till  the  measure  of  their  iniquity  was  full  ;  and  the 
hauglity  spirit  of  Pharoah  was  not  brought  low,  by 
wonder  upon  wonder,  by  plague  upon  plague,  till  he 
had  hardened  his  heart  against  the  power  of  God,  and 
the  sufferings  of  men,  and  thereby  made  himself  a 
"  vessel  of  wrath  fitted  for  destruction." 

The  awful  scene  we  are  this  night  to  contemplate, 
is,  in  more  respects  than  one,  singukir,  and  unexam- 
pled. We  are  not  only  presented  with  a  series  of  mi- 
racles, a  demonstration  of  the  tremendous  pov\er  of 
Almighty  God,  but,  what  is  still  more  extraordinary, 
they  are  a  series  of  miracles,  all  marked  with  uncom- 
mon rigor  and  severity.  The  wise  and  righteous  Go- 
vernor of  the  world  seems,  in  this  instance,  to  have  de- 
viated from  the  usual  lenity  of  his  proceeding  ;  as  if 
determined  to  make  men  tremble  before  him,  and  to 
stand  in  awe  of  his  power  and  justice,  as  ^vell  as  to 
hope  in  his  mercy. 

Moses  and  Aaron,  though  their  former  embassy  to 
Pharaoh  had  met  with  a  reception  so  mortifying  to 
themselves,  and  so  flital  to  their  afflicted  brethren,  are 
obliged  and  encouraged  at  God's  command  to  under- 
take a  second.  And  'the  haughtv  tvrant  having  dared 
to  reject  the  first,  as  delivered  in  the  name  of  an  un- 
known God,  they  are  now  furnished  with  credentials 


LF.CT.   T-  HISTORY    OF   MOSES.  65 

Mhich  carried  their  own  autliority  on  their  foreheads, 
and  r.hich  were  calculated  to  convince  every  thing  but 
rooted  infidelity  of  the  divine  power  by  which   they 
were  issued.     First  they  make  reason  speak.     And 
had  Pliaraoh  been  wise,  no  other  monitor  had  been 
necessary.     But  a  deaf  car  being  turned  to  that  meek 
and  heavenl}-  charmer,  it  becomes  needful  to  employ 
a  stronger  and  more  forcible  language.     Being  again 
introduced,  they  again  deliver  their  message,  and  are 
again  treated   with   sporn.     Aaron,  as  he  was  com- 
manded, having  the  rod  of  God  in  his  hand,   casts  it 
upon  the  ground  before  Pharaoh  and  his  court,  and  lo! 
it  instantly  becomes  animated  ;  it  is   converted  into  a 
serpent,  armed  with  deadly   poison.     When   Moses 
first   beheld  this  strange  sight,   "  he  was  afraid,  and 
would  have  fled;"     but    Pharaoh   appears  not  in  the 
least  alarmed.     The  same  fire  melts  wax,  and  hardens 
clay  ;  the  same   doctrine  is  the  savour  of  life  unto  life 
in  them  that  believe,  and  of  death  unto  death  in  them 
that  perish. 

Some  interpreters  have  alledged,  that  this  transform- 
ation was  not  only  miraculous,  but  emblematical,  and 
that  it  was  intended  to  humble  this  tyrannical  and  san- 
guinary prince,  by   exhibiting  a  representation  of  his 
own  character,  and  of  his  subserviency  to  the  power  of 
that  God  whom  he  had  presumed  to  defv.      What  a 
sudden  and  striking  change,  through  the  permission  of 
Providence  takes  place  !   A  harmless  rod  or  shepherd's 
crook,  the  emblem  of  mild,    wise  and  good  govern- 
ment, is  changed  into  a  poisonous  snake,  the  emblem 
of  cruelty  and  oppression.  And  lo,  at  the  divine  plea- 
sure, the  poison   is  again  extracted,  the  deadly  tooth 
is  plucked  out,  and  the  ficy  serpent  becomes  a  harm- 
less rod  again.     And  iliU'^,   in  general,  afflictive  pro- 
vidences are  either  the  gentle  rod  of  a  ivise  father  to 
admonish,  to  correct  and  to  reform  ;  or  the  keen  two- 
edged  sword  of  an  adversnrv  to  cleave  asunder,  to  de- 
vour and  not  to  destroy.     Whether  this   were  intend- 

VOL.    II.  I 


196  ftlSTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  T, 

cd  or  not,  it  is  evident  Piiaraoh  understood  it  not,  or 
disregarded  it.  And,  as  infidelity  is  always  desirous 
of  fortifying  itself  by  something  that  has  the  semblance 
of  reason  :  and,  while  it  pretends  to  doubt  of  every 
thing,  as,  in  truth,  the  most  simple  and  credulous 
principle  in  the  world,  Pharaoh  aflfects  to  treat  the  mi- 
racle which  was  wrought  by  Moses  and  Aaron,  as  a 
mere  trick,  a  feat  of  necromancy  or  magic.  He  calls 
for  such  of  his  own  people  as  professed  these  arts,  to 
confront  them  with  the  Israelitish  ambassadors  ;  in 
order  to  oppose  skill  to  skill,  and  to  diminish  the  re- 
spect and  attention  claimed  by  Moses  and  Aaron,  to 
their  mission,  and  to  their  God,  by  shewing  similar, 
or  equal  signs,  performed  by  Jannes  and  Jambres,  the 
votaries  of  an  Egyptian  deity. 

The  magicians  confidently  undertake  the  task,  and, 
through  the  permission  of  Heaven,  partly  succeed. 
The  rods  cast  upon  the  ground,  likewise  become  ser- 
pents. The  heart  of  Pharaoh  exults,  and  the  magi- 
cians of  Egypt  laugh  the  Jewish  shepherds  to  scorn. 
But  the  triumph  of  unblief  is  only  for  a  moment. 
Aaron's  rodjin  its  serpent  state,  swallowed  up  their  rods. 
Reasoning  man  will  ask,  why  were  not  impiety  and 
infidelity  checked  in  their  very  first  attempt?  Why 
were  the  demons  of  Egypt  left  in  possession  of  the 
slightest  vestige  of  power,  to  oppose  or  to  imitate  the 
mighty  power  of  God  ?  Why  grant  to  Pharaoh  and  to 
his  magicians,  even  the  momentary  triumph  of  their 
incantations  ?  The  reason  is  obvious.  Had  the  Egyp- 
tian encroachments  been  attended  with  no  success,  and 
produced  no  effect,  infidelity  would  have  had  its  plea 
at  hand.  "  Your  pretended  miracle  is  mere  illusion, 
it  is  an  attempt  to  mislead  our  understanding,  by  im- 
posing upon  our  senses.  Though  we  cannot  produce 
this  particular  effect,  or  perform  this  particular  trick, 
by  our  art,  we  can  effect  wonders  equally  or  much 
more  astonishing."  But,  by  being  permitted  to  suc- 
ceed in  their  first  effort,  and  to  rival  Moses  and  Aaron 


LECT.   V.  HISTORY   OF   MOSES.  CI 

SO  far  in  power  and  reputation,  they  arc  insensibly 
drawn  in  to  give  their  sanction  to  t'lc  sign  performed 
by  the  Hebrews,  for  the  sake  of  their  own  credit,  and 
no  sooner  is  it  stamped  for  currency,  with  their  image 
and  superscription,  than  they  and  their  abettors  arc 
confounded,  by  seeing  the  wretched  impression  of 
their  art  efl'aced,  absorbed,  annihilated  ;  and  no  image 
remains  visible,  but  that  of  the  living  and  true  God. 
The  power  which  sv^^allowcd  up  the  magicians'  rods, 
could  as  easily  have  prevented  the  transmutation  ;  but 
the  confutation  is  much  more  complete  by  the  one, 
than  it  would  have  been  by  the  other.  Impiety  has 
shut  her  own  mouth,  and  injfidelity  stands  stripped  of 
her  last  and  only  plea. 

An  opportunity  is  here  presented  of  instituting  an 
inquiry,  which  has  greatly  employed  and  violently  di- 
vided the  learned  and  ingenious  ;  namely,  whether  the 
supernatural  effects  here,  and  elsewhere  in  scripture 
ascribed  to  the  agency  of  demons  and  malignant  spi- 
rits, through  the  practice  of  magical  arts,  vere  real  mi- 
racles, that  is,  alterations  of  the  known  and  establish- 
ed laws  of  nature,  by  the  permission  of  God  -,  cr  only 
dexterous  impositions,  practised  by  the  subtle  artists, 
on  the  simple  and  credulous,  giving  the  appeari.nce  of 
reality  to  what  had  no  existence  ?  We  shall  not  take 
upon  us  to  determine,  whether  of  these  two  opinions 
is  most  conformable  to  reason,  and  to  the  analogy  of 
faith.  But  the  opportunity  having  offered,  we  shall 
take  the  liberty  of  suggesting  some  considerations, 
tending  less  to  settle  the  question,  than  to  shew  that, 
perhaps,  it  is  not  capable  of  solution.  But  our  grand 
aim  shall  be  to  shew,  that,  which  ever  side  men  arc 
pleased  to  take,  the  miracles  wrought  in  support  of 
truth,  through  the  agency  of  the  Author  of  all  good, 
preserve  all  their  superiority,  and  the  truth  itself  shines 
in  all  its  lustre. 

And,  first,  if  we  try  the  cause  by  the  letter  of  the 
narration  of  Moses,  it  will  immediately  strike  ever/ 


68  HISTOBY   or  MOSES.  LECT.   T. 

reader,    that  these  extraordinary  facts  were  actually 
produced  by  the  power  of  the  devil.     The  history  re- 
lates the  change  that  passed  on  the  magicians'  rods,  in 
the  self-same  terms  which  describe  the  transmutation 
of  Aaron's  ;  and  the  name  given  to  these  execrable 
men,  is  the  same  that  belongs  to  persons  who  have  de- 
voted themselves  to  the  wicked  one.   On  the  other  hand 
we  know,  that  scripture,  in  describing  natural  objects, 
usually  accommodates  itself  to  the  prevailing  notions  of 
the  ages  and  nations  in  which  the  inspired  authors  liv- 
ed and  wrote ;  that  it  condescends  even  to  adopt  the 
language,  the  ideas,  and  the  prejudices  of  the  vulgar  ; 
and,  that  it  employs,   not  the  accurate   language  and 
just  ivdeas  of  philosophy,  but  those  of  common  life,  in 
treating  the  greatest  and  most  important  subjects.     We 
thence  conclude^  that  whether  the  enchantments  of  the 
magiciai:s  produced  real  miracles,  or  were  deceptions 
merely,  the  Spirit  of  God  would  certainly  have  narrated 
the  fact  in  the  self-same  terms.     From  the  letter  of  the 
sacred  histoi}',  therefore  we   can   draw  no  conclusive 
argument  from  either  side  of  the  question. 

We  shall  have  equal  reason  to  suspend  our  judg- 
ment, if  we  try,  secondly,  to  decide  it  by  the  relations 
transmitted  to  us  from  various  ages  and  regions  of  the 
world,  concerning  real  or  seeming  enchantments.     It 
would  perhaps,  be  as  difficult  to  persuade  the  men  of 
our  own  age,  that  ivuch  a  tiling  as  ^vitchcraft  ever  exist- 
ed,  as  it  would  have  been  to  convince  our  ancestors 
in  former  ages,  thafmostof  the  ellects  ascribed  to  Sa- 
tan and  his  agents,  ihad  no  foundation  but  in  the  cun- 
ning, dexterity   and   knavery  of  one  part  of  mankind, 
practising  on  the  ignornnce,  credulity  and   simplicity 
of  another.      But,  as  it  would  betray  a  silly  and  ridicu- 
lous easiness  of  belict",  on  the   one  hand,   to  admit  as 
true,  the  ten  thousand   stories,  which  the  time  of  ig- 
norance devised,  related  and  believed  ;   and  with  which 
our  own  childhood  nuiy  have  been  scared  and  alarmed; 
so,  it  would  certainly  be  an  unreasonable  and  absurd 


« 


LECT.   V.  HISTORY   OF    MOSES.  69 

degree  of  scepticism,  on  the  other,  to  reject  as  fabu- 
lous every  relation  of  this  sort,  however  "well  authenti- 
cated. Wise  and  p;ood  men  have  proved,  by  arguments 
amounting  ahnost  to  demonstration,  the  absurdity 
of  admitting  the  actual  interference  of  a  diabolical 
power  in  order  to  deceive  mankind.  And  w  ise  and 
good  men,  by  evidence  apparently  as  clear  and  satis- 
factorv,  have  endeavored  to  establish  the  certainty  of 
such  interference  in  particular  instances.  And  this 
seems  a  good  reason  against  pronouncing  hastily  upon 
the  nature  of  the  sorceries  practised  by  the  magicians 
of  Egypt.  Vv''e  shall  find  ourselves  e  |ually  in  the  dark, 
if  we  attempt  to  form  our  judgment  in  the  third  place, 
on  metaphysical  notions.  Our  minds  are  exceedingly 
limited  with  respect  to  all  objects,  and  particularly 
with  respect  to  the  nature  of  spirits.  We  know,  from 
experience,  that  the  soul,  little  as  it  comprehends  its 
own  nature  and  essence,  has  a  v/onderful  influence 
over  every  particle  of  that  body  to  which  it  is  united : 
but  we  can  form  no  notion  of  the  power  and  influence, 
which  spirits  of  a  difierent  order  may  possess  over 
larger  portions  of  matter,  and  even  over  our  bodies, 
and,  of  consequence,  over  our  minds.  Much  less  are 
we  able  to  conceive  what  an  extent  of  po'.ver  the  Fa- 
ther of  spirits  may,  for  wise  purposes,  have  permitted 
to  evil  spirits,  over  the  whole  world  of  nature,  which 
has  fallen  into  disorder,  and  is  labouring  under  the 
curse  of  Heaven,  on  account  of  man's  apostacy.  The 
limited  nature  of  human  understanding,  therefore, 
likewise  forbids  us  to  decide  too  peremptorily  on  a 
subject  so  obviously  involved  in  difficulty. 

Finally,  the  principles  of  religion  here  refuse  to 
lend  us  their  aid.  In  whatever  tends  to  convey  saving; 
light  to  the  soul,  or  peace  to  the  conscience  ;  in  all 
that  relates  to  the  government  of  the  heart,  or  the  n  ise 
conduct  of  the  life,  religion  is  ever  at  hand,  and  kindly 
oiFers  her  aid,  nay,  presses  it  upon  us  ;  but,  in  ques- 
tions of  doubtful  disputation,  in  which  men  r^diu*  aim 


70  lilSTOllY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.   V.- 

at  gratifying  a  restless  curiosity,  or  wild  imagination, 
than  at  improving  the  understanding,  or  mending  the 
heart,  revelation  rather  checks  and  represses  inquiry, 
than  promises  or  lends  her  assistance.  It  is  sufficient 
then,  for  our  purpose,  to  say,  that  of  whatever  nature 
were  the  incantations  of  the  Egyptian  magicians,  and 
whatever  their  effects,  the  God  of  truth,  by  the  hand 
of  Moses  and  Aaron,  put  his  infinite  superiority  beyond 
a  possibility  of  doubt;  andextorted'an  acknowledgment 
of  it  from  the  mouths  of  the  magicians  themselves. 
But,  though  they  are  put  to  silence,  and  Pharaoh  is 
confounded,  by  the  miracle  of  Aaron's  rod  Swallowing 
up  their  rods,  yet  they  are  not  brought  to  see  the  in- 
sufficiency of  their  art,  neither  is  he  yet  reduced  to  yeld 
obedience  to  an  authority  asserted  by  so  high  a  hand. 
A  miracle,  therefore,  w-jiich  only  threatened,  but  con- 
tinued harmless  ;  a  miracle  which  proved  fatal  only  to 
the  instruments  of  sorcery  and  enchantment,  failing  to 
produce  compliance,  it  becomes  at  length  necessary  to 
follow  up  the  remonstrance  of  reason  and  humanity, 
and  the  evidence  of  signs,  powerful  indeed,  yet  inno- 
cent by  the  operation  of  signs  that  shall  be  felt :  signs, 
which  shall  address  themselves  to  the  understanding, 
and  the  senses,  at  once ;  and  shall  force  conviction 
upon  the  most  careless  and  incredulous. 

Their  river,  Nile,  was  the  chief  ground  of  glorifying 
to  the  Egyptians.  It  was  the  ornament  of  their  coun- 
try, and  the  source  of  its  fertility.  Deriving  the  mois- 
ture, necessary  to  fructification,  from  thence  they  vainly 
boasted  that  they  were  independent  of  the  heavens  ; 
•standing  in  no  need,  like  the  rest  of  the  world,  of  the 
refreshing  drops  which  fall  from  thence.  Egypt, 
therefore,  is  first  smitten,  in  the  darling  source  of  its 
pride|;  and  that  which  presumptuously  put  itself  in  the 
place  of  God,  first  feels  the  power  of  God  ;  and  be- 
comes, not  a  cause  of  vain-glorious  boasting,  but  a 
loathing  and  an  abomination  to  its  worshippers.  Smit- 
ten w^itli  the  awful  rod,  its  waters  are  instantly  and  uni- 


iECT.    V.  WISTORY    OF    MOSES.  71 

versally  turned  into  blood.  Horrid  change  !  An  inun- 
dation of  the  river  too  scanty,  threatened  a  flimine  : 
an  inundation  too  copious,  threatened  a  dehige.  But, 
O  dreadful  reflection  !  the  river  no  lons^cr  flows  Aviih 
thatprecious refreshing  fluid,  which  gives  drink  and  re- 
newed vigor  to'thirsty  man,  to  thjrsty  cattle,  to  the 
parched  ground  ;  but  a  fluid  which  taints  tlie  air  ; 
which  excites  "abhorrence,  instead  of  satisfying  the  ap- 
petite ;  and  which  kills  what  it  contains,  instead  of 
communicating  life  and  fruitfulness  wherever  it  is  diflfu- 
sed.  And  should  it  rise  and  swell,  what  is  it  ?  An  abo- 
minable deluge  of  blood.  Its  streams  had  been  often 
stained  with  the  blood  of  human  innocents  ;  and  its 
savage  master  is  now  punished  with  seeing  its  vast 
channel  fiilled,  from  shore  to  shore,  with  one  crimson 
tide.  In  this  awful  glass  we  are  made  to  see,  that 
whatsoever  men  exalt  in  the  room  of  God  and  wor- 
ship as  God,  will  sooner  or  later  become  a  loathing  or  a 
curse  to  them  ;  and  that  the  insrument  of  their  sin  as- 
suredly will  be  coHverted,  at  length,  into  tlie  instru- 
ment of  their  punishment. 

"  And  the  magicians  of  Egypt  did  so  with  their  en- 
chantments." Foolish,  unhappy  men;  to  try  to  in- 
crease an  evil  which  Avas  already  intolerable  !  If  their 
art  could  have  done  any  thing,  it  had  been  more  wisely 
employed  in  endeavoring  to  purify  and  sweeten  those 
polluted  streams.  To  succeed  in  multiplying  blood  was 
ruinous.  The  greater  the  power  of  their  art,  the  more 
pernicious  it  was  to  themselves  and  to  their  country. 
And  this  is  the  whole  extent  of  the  boasted  power  of 
Satan  :  it  is  a  power  to  do  evil,  a  power  to  destroy  : 
but  a  power  destitute  both  of  capacitv  and  of  inclina- 
tion to  do  good.  Whereas  th;.t  of  Heaven,  though  it 
be  an  ability  to  do  evil,  is  an  ability  to  this  effect,  which 
it  exercises  rarely,  and  with  reluctance  ;  whereas  the 
doing  of  good,  and  the  diflTusing  of  happiness,  is  its 
habitual  object,  and  its  constant  employment.  Vain 
man  would  be  independent,  and  sometimes  boasts  that 


72  HISTORY   OF    MOSES.  LliCT.    V. 

he  is  so  ;  and  yet,  what  is  he?  A  creature  sustained 
by  bread,  and  refreshed  by  water ;  he  lives  by  respir- 
ing the  air  which  he  sucks  in  ;  he  depends,  every  in- 
stant of  his  existence  on  the  aid  of  every  element.  Let 
the  quantity  or  quahties  of  any  one  of  them  be  ever  so 
little  changed,  and  that  moment  he  becomes  miserable. 
One  rainy  or  dj'oughlhy  season  makes  whole  nations  to 
languish  ;  the  frost  of  u  night  destroys  the  hope  of  a 
year  ;  and  a  single  blast  of  wind  sends  mighty  navies  to 
the  bottom.  'I'here  is  no  need  of  a  miracle  to  plague 
those  whom  God  means  to  punish.  All  nature  is  at  war 
with  his  adversaries  :  the  stars  in  their  courses  fight 
against  those  who  fight  against  God.  O  may  we  never 
be  so  mad  as  to  provoke  that  Power  by  which  we  are 
continually  supported,  and  from  which  we  cannot  flee  ! 
After  a  chastisement  so  awful,  who  could  have  ima- 
gined that  Pharaoh  was  able  still  to  stand  out  ?  But  the 
human  heart  exhibits  a  mystery  of  iniquity,  which  no- 
thing but  muitip-ied  experience  could  render  credible. 
The  next  summons  has  a  threatening  annexed  to  it ; 
and  the  moment  of  refusal  is  to  be  the  moment  of  exe- 
cution. The  plague  threatened,  being  particularly  spe- 
cified beforehand,  was  likely  to  excite  the  greater 
alarm,  and  thereby  to  drive  the  offender  to  the  means 
of  prevention  :  but,  it  would  appear,  Pharaoh  despis- 
ed it.  What,  terrified  at  a  s\\arm  of  frogs  !  vermin, 
loathsome  indeed,  but  despicably  harmless.  How 
ignorantly  do  m.en  estimate  the  judgments  of  God, 
when  they  consider  only  the  instrument  which  he  em- 
])loys.  Men  efiect  little  with  large  and  abundant 
means  ;  God  performs  wonders  with  things  mean  and 
contemptible.  Is  a  haughty  tyrant  to  be  subdued  ? 
There  is  no  need  of  more  than  twelve  legions  of  an- 
gels ;•  an  army  of  frogs  in  the  hand  of  God,  is  suffi- 
cient for  the  purpose.  Again  the  magicians  are  weak 
enough  to  assist  the  plague  ;  at  least,  they  affect  to  lend 
their  aid  ;  and  rather  than  not  to  be  thought  mighty, 
Avill  seek  to  themselves  a  name  by  doing  mischief. 


iECT.  V.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  73 

Again,  the  river,  which  ministered  so  much  to  their 
pride,  is  made  the  minister  of  avenging  Heaven  to 
punish  them.  As  its  waters  were  lately  all  blood,  to 
poison  the  fishes  which  it  contained,  and  to  taint  the 
air,  so  now  they  are  all  putrefaction,  to  give  dreadful 
life  to  an  innumerable  race  of  odious  vermin,  for 
humbling  the  proud.  Every  creature  is,  and  does, 
just  that  which  God  would  have  it  to  be,  and  to  do..,, 
it  becomes  either  a  blessing,  or  a  curse,  at  his  com- 
mand !  And,  were  we  wise  enough,  to  assist  our 
weak,  or  to  correct  our  erroneous  vision,  by  the  op- 
tics of  the  sanctuary,  we  should  behold,  under  many 
a  fair  and  flattering  form,  much  loathsomeness  and  de- 
formity. 

Pharaoh  despised  this  plague,  while  it  was  only 
threatened,  but  feels  it  to  be  no  slight  one,  when  it 
falls  upon  him  :  and  he  is,  in  this  respect,  the  image 
of  many  a  thoughtless  sinner,  who  trifle  with  the 
judgments  denounced  in  the  word  of  God,  till  bitter 
experience  teaches  them  that  every  arrow  from  the 
quiver  of  the  Almighty  is  both  penetrating  and  pois- 
onous. The  proud  heart  which  refused  to  bend,  at 
length  begins  to  break  ;  and  a  slow,  lingering,  par- 
tial, reluctant  consent  is  given  to  the  demand  of  Hea- 
ven ;  and  permission  is  granted  to  the  people  to  go, 
*' that  they  may  do  sacrifice  unto  the  Lord.''  The 
concession,  slight  as  it  is,  procures  a  respite.  Mercy, 
ever  on  the  wing,  flies  to  succor  the  miserable. 

We  have  seen  Moses  and  Aaron  executing  the  judg- 
ments of  avenging  Heaven,  by  the  agency  of  a  rod. 
Christ  himself  is  the  powerful  word,  by  which  God 
made  and  sustains  worlds  ;  the  all- potent  instrument 
to  save,  and  to  destroy.  "  With  righteousness  he 
shall  judge  the  poor,  a;.  1  reprove  with  equity,  for  the 
meek  of  the  earth ;  and  he  shdl  smite  the  earth  with 
the  rod  of  his  mouth,  and  with  the  breath  of  his  lips 
he  shall  slay  the  wicked."     Moses  acted   by  a  dele- 

VOL.    TT.  K 


7i  HISTORY  OF    MOSES.  LECT.  V. 

gated  power  :  Jesus  has  all  power  in  himself.  "  Mo- 
ses verily  was  faithful  in  ail  his  house  as  a  servant ; 
but  Christ  as  a  son  over  his  own  house."  The  same 
Moses  was  the  deliverer  of  Israel,  and  the  scourge  of 
Egypt :  the  same  Jesus,  who  is  the  author  of  eternal 
salvation  to  them  that  believe,  *'  shall  be  revealed 
from  heaven,  with  his  mighty  angels,  in  flaming  fire  : 
taking  vengeance  on  them  that  know  not  God,  and 
that  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
"  All  judgment  is  committed  to  the  Son."  "  He  shall 
reign,  till  he  hath  put  all  his  enemies  under  his  feet." 
"  The  last  enemy  that  shall  be  destroyed  is  death." 

"  O  death  where  is  thy  sting?  O  grave,  where  is 
thy  victory  ?  Thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth  us  the 
victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."    Amen. 


HISTORY  OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  VI, 

And  Pharaoh''s  servants  said  unto  him,  How  long 
shall  this  man  be  a  snare  zinto  its  ?  Let  the  men  go, 
that  they  may  serve  the  Lord  their  God:  knoivest 
thou  not  yet,  that  Egypt  is  destroyed  f.,..'£,yioiivii 
X.  7. 

HOW  very  diflferent  an  appearance  do  objects  wear, 
according  as  they  arc  beautified  and  exalted  by 
the  favor  of  Heaven,  or  blasted  and  disfigured  by  the 
curse  of  an  offended  God  !  Eden,  before  man's  apos- 
tacy  ;  Eden  fresh  planted,  by  the  sovereign  hand  of 
the  Creator,  contained  every  tree  that  is  pleasant  to 
the  sight  and  good  for  food,  and  in  the  midst  of  it  was 
the  tree  of  life  ;  but  O  sad  reverse,  the  fatal  effect  of 
transgression  !  *'  Cursed  is  the  ground  for  thy  sake  ; 
thorns  and  thistles  shall  it  bring  forth  to  thee;"  and 
the  tree  of  life  is  removed  to  happier  regions,  or  guard- 
ed from  guilt}'  man's  approach,  by  the  flaming  sword 
of  the  cherubim.  The  plain  of  Jordan,  well- watered 
every  where,  and  beautifid  as  the  garden  of  the  Lord, 
delighted  the  eyes  and  allured  the  heart  of  Lot,  when 
he  separated  himself  from  his  uncle  Abraham.  But 
O  how  awfullv  chansrcd  that  once  delicious  sDOt !  The 
day  when  Lot  went  out  of  it,  "  Abraham  looked  to- 
wards Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and  towards  all  the  lands 
of  the  plain,  and  beheld,  and  lo,  the  smoke  of  the  coun- 


76  HISTORY   OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VI- 

try  went  up,  as  the  smoke  of  a  furnace."  What  a 
charming  prospect  did  Egypt  present  in  the  days  of 
her  glory  ?  Her  fertile  surface,  covered  with  the  silver 
flux  of  her  stately,  overflowing  river,  except  where 
thousands  of  populous  cities  lifted  up  their  proud  heads 
to  the  skies  ;  or,  when  the  river  retreated,  her  golden, 
luxuriant  harvests  waving  with  the  fragrant  wind. 
How  changed  the  scene,  when  the  Nile  ran,  not  water, 
but  blood  ;  after  the  murrain  had  destroyed  all  their 
cattle  ;  after  the  lightning  and  the  hail  had  blasted 
every  tree,  had  devoured  every  herb,  and  the  *'  lo- 
custs had  consumed  what  the  hail  had  left !"  What 
makes  earth  resemble  heaven  ;  and  men  like  angels  ? 
The  presence,  the  blessing,  and  the  image  of  God ! 
What  once  covered  the  earth  with  water,  and  shall  at 
length  destroy  it  by  fire  ?  What  sinks  men  to  the  level 
of  diabolical,  damned  spirits,  and  adds  tenfold  horror 
to  gloomy  hell  ?  The  wrath  of  the  Almighty,  and  the 
deprivation  of  his  glorious  similitude.  Nature  sinks 
under  the  description  and  the  denunciation  of  the  di- 
vine displeasure.  What  must  it  be  to  endure  its 
dreadful  effects,  without  intermission,  and  without 
end  ! 

Instead  of  going  into  a  particular  detail  of  the  sub- 
sequent plagues  wherewith  God  afflicted  Egypt,  we 
shall  suggest  a  few  historical  and  practical  remarks 
upon  the  subject  in  general,  serving  to  unfold  the 
windings  and  the  workings  of  the  human  heart,  to 
illustrate  and  vindicate  the  ways  of  Providence,  to 
expose  the  madness  of  striving  against  God,  and  to 
display  the  wisdom,  the  safety  and  the  happiness  of 
submitting  readily,  cheerfully  and  universally  to  the 
divine  authority. 

And,  first.  We  observe,  that  as  God  has  many  in- 
conceival:)le  methods  of  doing  good  to  men  :  so  his 
power  of  punishing  is  unlimited,  and  the  treasures  of 
his  wratli  are  far  beyond  what  fear  itself,  which  mag- 
nifies every  object,  c-m  tancy.     Of  his  glorious  capa- 


LECT.  VI.  HISTORY  Of  MOSES.  77 

citv  and  disposition  to  bless  mankind,  who  has  not 
enjoyed  the  sweetest,  and  frequently  repeated  experi- 
ence ?  Whose  life  is  so  short,  as  not  to  contain  a  his- 
tory of  benefits,  a  display  of  mercy,  a  profusion  of 
loving-kindness,  which  astonish  while  they  delight  ? 
Whose  portion  of  felicity  is  so  scanty,  as  not  to  ex- 
hibit wonders  of  goodness  infinitely  above  the  desert 
of  angels '?  What  understanding  is  so  brutish,  what 
heart  so  ungrateful,  as  not  to  recur,  at  the  first  call,  to 
a  multitude  of  special  blessings,  pressing  upon  the 
memory,  urging  prior  or  superior  claims  of  acknovv- 
ledgment  and  praise  ?  Need  you  to  be  told,  ungrate- 
ful, forgetful  children  of  men  !  Need  you  to  be  told, 
the  value  of  an  uninterrupted  and  steady  course  of 
good  health  ;  or  of  the  more  sensible  benefit  of  reco- 
covery  from  sickness  and  pain  ?  Shall  I  send  you  back 
to  years  that  are  long  past,  or  recall  yesterday  to  your 
recollection  ?  Shall  I  remind  you  of  that  common 
bounty  which  gives  you,  day  by  day,  your  daily 
bread ;  or  of  that  singular,  shall  I  say  miraculous, 
interposition,  which  seemed  to  drop  dow^n  manna 
around  your  tabernacle  ?  Must  all  ages,  and  nations, 
and  regions  of  the  world,  be  made  to  pass  in  review 
before  your  eyes  ;  or  will  }ou  confine  your  observa- 
tion to  your  own  moment  of  existence,  your  own 
hand-breadth  of  space,  your  own  two  or  three  acquain- 
tances and  contemporaries,  your  own  patience  of  know- 
ledge ?  Shall  the  glories  of  nature,  or  the  wonders  of 
Providence,  be  unfolded  to  your  view  ?  ^\'i!l  you 
contemplate  the  fatness  and  fragrancy  of  the  fertile 
earth,  or  the  vastness  and  brilliancy  of  the  azure  vault 
of  heaven  ?  Will  you  confine  yourselves  to  things  seen 
and  temporal;  or  borne,  as  on  the  eagle's  win,t^,  eon- 
template  things  which  are  unseen  and  eternal  '?  Will 
you  converse  with  your  fellow-mortals  on  the  surface 
of  this  mole-hill,  or  join  in  the  songs  and  mptures  of 
angels,  Vvho  surround  the  throne,  and  of  the  spirits 
of  just  men    made   perfect,  immortal    intelligences, 


78  kISTORY   O?   MOSES.  LECT.   VI. 

perfectly  awake  to  the  full  perception  of  their  blessed- 
ness ?  Choose  you  to  dwell  on  the  transitory  comforts 
of  the  life  that  now  is,  or  to  anticipate  the  joys  sub- 
stantial, sincere  and  lasting,  of  that  which  is  to  come  ? 
Creation  spreads  her  fair,  her  ample,  her  splendid 
page  to  the  delighted  eye.  The  mysterious  volume, 
sealed  to  the  careless  reader  as  with  seven  Fcais,  to 
the  serious  and  attentive  soul  unveils  the  hidden  wis- 
dom of  God,  and.,  written  with  a  sun-beam,  there 
stands  recorded  the  gracious  purpose  of  Him  who 
*'  worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his  own 
will." 

Wouldst  thou  be  satisfied,  O  man,  that  the  great 
God  has  means  innumerable,  unutterable,  incompre- 
hensible, of  conferring  happiness  on  mankind?  Think, 
O  think,  how  he  has  loved  the  world,  in  the  redemp- 
tion of  it  by  Jesus  Christ  !  Think  how  many  de- 
monstrations of  grace  meet  in  that  o//e,  "  God  spared 
not  his  own  Son,  but  gave  him  up  for  us  all  ?"  And 
when  you  have  ruminated,  on  the  history  of  redeem- 
ing love  ;  when  you  have  recovered  from  the  astonish- 
ment and  joy  of  contemplating  what  God  has  done 
for  you,  lose  yourself  afresh  in  the  prospect  of  what 
the  Lord  hath  laid  up  for  the  heirs  of  salvation.... in 
the  prospect  of  that  great,  exceeding  and  "  eternal 
weight  of  glory,''  which  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear 
heard,  and  of  which  it  hath  not  entered  into  the  heart 
of  man"  to  form  any  adequate  conception  or  idea ! 
Fly,  O  my  soul,  whithersoever  thou  wilt ;  settle 
wherever  thou  wilt,  infinite  goodness  still  supports 
thy  flight,  and  settle  thou  must  on  the  rock  of  ages, 
at  last  ! 

But,  ah  !  my  friend,  this  God,  almighty  to  save, 
is  also  mighty  to  destroy.  As  his  bounty  is  an  inex- 
hausted  source  of  plenty  to  bless  his  friends,  so  his 
justice  is  a  capacious  quiver,  stored  with  innumerable 
poisoned  arrows,  to  shed  the  blood,  to  drink  up  the 
spirits  of  his  adversaries.     Think,  in  how  many  parts 


L£CT.    VI.  IflSTORT   OF    MOSES.  79 

art  thou  vulnerable  ?  In  every  particle  of  thy  frame, 
in   every    faculty  of  thy  soul.     Every  sense  opens  a 
passage  for  the  entrance  of  an  -avenging  God.     The 
understanding,     at    his  command,     expands   to    the 
dreadful  perception  of  justice  that  will  not  bend  ;   of 
severity    that   knows   not   to   relax  ;     of    -n  cngcance 
that  admits  not  of  pity.      Memory,  roused  by  that 
trumpet  which    awakes    the    dead,    gives  new  form 
and  substance  to  the  hideous  spectres  of  transgres- 
sions long  since  departed,  and  which  were  vainly  ima- 
gined to  be  laid  in   the  grave  forever ;  and  th.e  guilty 
wretch  is  dragged  to  the  bitter  recollection  of  what  he 
once  dwelt  on  with  unhallowed  delight,  and  now  would 
feign   bury  in  eternal    oblivion  ;   or  which   he  gladly 
would,  at  the  price  of  worlds,  redeem  from  the  history 
of  his  wretched  life.     As  memory,  to  fulfil  the  righte- 
ous judgment  of  God,  can  readly  summon  up  all  that 
is  past,  in  order  to  awaken  remorse,  and  inspire  terror; 
so  fear  launches  forth  into  the  boundless,  endless  re- 
gions of  futurity,  and  rouses  despair  ;  and  in  the  very 
abysses  of  burning  hell,  shudders  at  the  thought  of  a 
deeper  gulph,  and  of  a  hotter  flame.     Read,  O  sinner, 
the  history  of    the  plagues  of  Egypt,    and   tremble  ! 
Suppose,  for  a  moment,  the  cup  Avherewith  thou  art 
ready  to  quench  thy   burning  thirst,   instantly  turned 
into  blood,  to  the  loathing  of  thy  soul  and  thy  flesh- 
Suppose  thy  body  struck  with  an  universal  leprosy,  or 
the  dust  under  thy  feet  quickened  into  abominable  ver- 
min ;  the  air  around  thy  head  impregnated  with  swarms 
of  noisome  insects  ;  the  sun  extinguished  for  three  te- 
dious lingering  days,  and  the  thunder  of  an  angry  God 
rolling  over  thy  guilty   devoted  habitation  ;  and  sup- 
pose all  this  to  be  but  the  ber^inning  of  sorrow  ;  the 
mere  threatenings  of  wrath  to  come  ;  woe  that  may 
be  endured,  torment  that  may  expire ;  for  ah  !  from 
yonder  fearful  pit  arises  the  smoke  of  a  fire  that  shall 
not  be  quenched  ;  smoke  that  shall  ascend  forever  and 
ever.     Their  groans  bursting  from  the  bosom  of  des- 


80  HISTOIIY   OF  MOSES.  LECT.   VI. 

pair  ;  and  the  ratling  of  everlasting,  adamantine  chains. 
Behold  the  wild  looks,  the  agonizing  pangs  of  that 
poor  rich  man,  when,  from  the  flames  of  his  torment, 
he  beholds  Lazarus  in  Abraham's  bosom  :  when  he 
beholds  heaven  removed  to  an  inaccessable  distance  ; 
heaven  disjoined  by  an  impassable  gulph.  Heaven, 
the  rest  of  the  weary,  and  the  reward  of  the  faithful, 
aflfords  to  him  a  momentary  glimpse  of  its  joys,  only 
to  embitter  remorse,  only  to  pierce  the  soul  with  keen- 
er pangs,  and  to  heat  the  furnace  seven  times  hotter 
than  it  was  before.  *'  It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  living  God." 

After  serious  reflection  upon  these   things,  our  se- 
cond observation  would  seem  ill-founded,  and  destitute 
of  all  probability  and  truth,  did  not  all  history,   and 
daily  experience  confirm  the  woeful  certainty  of  it.     It 
is  this  :  that  by  frequent  indulgence,  and  inveterate  ha- 
bits of  sin,  the  heart  may  at  length  become  quite  cal- 
lous ;   may  be  rendered  equally  insensible  to  the  calls 
of  mercy,  and  the  alarms  of  justice.     We  are  struck 
with  astonishment,    at   the  sight  of  a  poor  infatuated 
w-retch  like    Pharcioh,    repeatedly  braving  that  power 
w  hich  returned  to  crush  and  humble  him,  and  slighting 
t'r.at  grace  which  as   often  relented  and  afforded  space 
and  means  for  repentance.      Would  to  God  there  were 
room  to  think  the  representation  more  unnatural  than 
it  is,  and  that  the  character  of  Pharoah,  were  a  rarity 
in  the  vAorld.     But  alas  !   what  is  the  life  of  most  men, 
but  an  habitual  fighting  against  God?  Upon  whom  falls 
the  weight  of  our  remark  ?    Upon  a  few  thoughtless, 
hardened  wretches  only,  who  have   found  out  the  se- 
cret of  lulling  conscience  to  rest,  who,  having  conquer- 
ed the    sense  of  fear  and  of  shame,    commit   iniquity 
with  greediness  ;  who  "  hide  not  their  sin,  like  Sodom 
but  publish  it  like  Gomorrah?"    Let  us  not  deceive 
ourselves,  but  watch  over  cur  own  hearts,  and  "  ex- 
hort one  another  daily,  lest  any  be  hardened  through 
the  deceitfulness  of  sin."      There   stands  Pharaoh, 


LECT.   VI.  HISTORY   OF    MOSEI.  81 

the  daring,  the  presumptuous  sinner  ;  whom  (goodness 
cuuld  not  moUify  nor  judi^ments  subdue  ;  and  let  him 
who  is  without  sin  cast  the  first  stone  at  him.  Who 
can  flatter  himself  with  the  thought,  that  the  errors 
of  his  life  were  the  mere  inadvericncics  of  haste  and 
inattention  "?  Who  can  say  of  himself,  "  This  fault  I 
corrected,  as  soon  as  I  discovered  it'?  Having  been 
once  made  sensible  of  the  danger  and  wickedness  of 
that  sinful  couise,  I  instantly  forsook  it,  and  have  re- 
turned to  it  no  more.  Smarting  from  the  effects  of 
my  folly,  I  have  never  again  dared  to  provoke  the 
lash  of  my  Father's  chastening  rod.  The  resolutions 
which  I  made  in  the  day  of  sickness  and  sorrow,  and 
calamity,  I  have  faithfully  remembered,  and  diligently 
kept.  Vows  made  at  the  Lord's  table,  I  have  made 
conscience  to  perform.  The  threatenings  of  God's 
word  I  have  not  disregarded,  the  long-sufferings  of 
my  God  I  have  not  abused."  Alas !  alas  !  the  reverse  of 
all  this  is  the  truth  which  condemns  every  one.  Not 
a  single,  but  repeated  acts  of  intemperance,  injustice, 
impnrity,  impiety  ;  not  casual  and  undesigned  ex- 
pressions, but  deliberate  and  indulged  habits  of  false- 
hoods, malevolence,  selfishness  and  uncharitableness, 
place  us  as  criminals  at  the  bar,  by  the  side  uf  Pharaoh, 
and  forbid  us  to  condemn  him,  because  we  also  have 
sinned.  What  avails  it  me  to  say,  tl-.at  my  offence  is 
not  the  same  with  his  ?  Perhaps  I  had  neither  power, 
nor  inclination,  nor  opportunity,  for  committing  that 
man's  transgression.  Have  I  therefore  washed  my 
hands  in  innocence?  Can  I  therefore  plead,  "  not 
guilty?''  The  great  question  is.  Have  I  kept  myself 
free  from  mine  own  transgression?  And,  spared  of  God 
to  make  the  inquiry... let  Pharaoh's  impenitence,  and 
Pharaoh's  doom,  awaken  us  to  a  sense  of  our  danger; 
and  urge  a  speedy  flight  from  the  wrath  that  is  to  come. 
Thirdly,  The  history  leads  us  to  remark  the  great 
difference  between  the  slow,  reluctant,  partial  submis- 
sion of  fear,  and  the  prompt,  cheerful  and  unreserved 

VOL.    II.  L 


82  H13T0EY    or   MOSES.  LECT.   VI. 

compliance  of  a  grateful  and  afiectionate  heart.  Pha- 
raoh, like  a  sullen,  sturdy  slave,  will  not  move  a  step, 
till  stimulated  by  a  fresh  application  of  the  whip  ;  the  . 
moment  that  the  pain  of  the  stripe  ceases,  he  stands 
still,  or  turns  back.  The  first  summons  is  treated  by 
him  with  insolence  and  scorn ;  and  he  resolves  that 
Israel  shall  not  have  a  single  moment's  relaxation  from 
their  burthens.  Brought  to  himself  by  a  few  strokes 
of  the  rod  of  God's  anger,  he  yields  a  tardy  consent  to 
the  intermission  of  their  labors  for  a  little  while,  and 
to  their  doing  sacrifice  to  their  God  ;  but  it  must  be 
"  in  the  land  Vv'ere  they  dwelt,  even  in  Egjpt.''  That 
alternaLive  being  rejected,  and  a  new  demand  made, 
backed  with  a  new  threatening,  and  followed  with  a 
new  plague,  he  agrees  to  permit  the  7nale  part  of  Israel, 
who  were  arrived  at  man's  estate,  to  resort  to  the  place 
appointed ;  but  he  is  determed  to  detain  their  wives, 
children  and  cattle,  as  hostages  for  their  return.  Con- 
strained, at  length,  by  dint  of  judgments,  to  let  the 
whole  congregation  depart,  he  endeavors  to  stipulate, 
that  they  should  not  go  very  far  off;  and  not,  till  bro- 
ken by  the  last  dreadiul  plague,  can  he  be  brought  to 
resign  his  usurped  authority  over  the  free-born  sons  of 
God. 

We  often  find  men  pretending  to  make  a  merit  of 
giving  up  what  it  is  no  longer  in  their  power  to  retain. 
After  a  man  has  squandered  away  his  means,  in  riot  and 
extravagance,  deserves  he  the  praise  for  living  sparing- 
ly ?  Another  has  ruined  his  constitution  by  intempe- 
rance ;  is  his  forced  continence  an  object  of  admira- 
tion? By  no  means.  He  has  discontinued  his  debauch- 
eries through  disability,  not  from  inclination  and  con- 
viction of  his  error.  Old  age  has  debilitated  a  third  ! 
is  he  tj.-.Tefbre  virtuous  !  No,  no  :  his  vices  has  forsa- 
ken hbn,  not  he  his  vices.  When  a  man  serves  through 
fear,  he  does  no  more  than  he  needs  must  ;  but  love  is 
liberal  and  generous,  and  stands  not  questioning,  "yea 
hath  God  said  ?"   but,  ever  on  the  watch,  ever  on  the 


LECT.    YI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  85 

wing,  the  moment  tliat  the  voice  of  God  is  heard,  it  is 
ready  to  reply,  "  Here  ami,  Lord,  send  me."  This 
leads  ine  to  remark, 

Fourthly,  The  wisdom  of  giving  up,  at  the  com- 
mand of  God,  with  alacrity,  what  we  must  give  up  at 
last,  whether  we  will  or  \v)t.  What  a  pitiful  figure 
does  Pharaoh  make  in  the  end  !  baffled  in  every  at- 
tempt driven  out  of  every  fortress,  dishonored  in  the 
eyes  of  his  own  servants,  transmitted  to  the  latest 
posterity  a  monument  of  pride  and  impotence. 
Were  not  the  proud  man  blind  and  infatuated,  he 
wouW  yield  through  self-love ;  he  w^ould  submit  to 
preserve  his  oun  consequence,  at  least  the  appearance 
of  it.  Unhappily  for  us,  our  vv-ill  stands  but  too  often 
in  opposition  to  the  will  of  God.  When  they  come 
to  clash,  who  ought  in  reason  to  give  way  ?  Who 
must  of  necessity  submit?  Knouest  thou  not,  O  man, 
that  to  destroy  thyself,  thou  needest  but  to  follow  thy 
own  headstrong  inclination  :  knowest  thou  not,  that, 
the  gratification,  not  the  disappointment  of  illicit  de- 
sire, is  ruinous  ?  but  who  ever  made  a  sacrifice  of  in- 
clination to  duty,  and  had  reason  to  repent  of  it? 
Who  knows  not,  that  to  yield  submission  is  to  obtain 
a  triumph  ?  In  a  contention  where  there  is  a  probabili- 
ty, or  even  a  possibility  of  our  prevaling,  it  may  be 
worth  while  to  risk  a  combat;  but  who,  except  a 
madman,  will  seek  to  encounter  a  foe  by  whom  he  is 
sure  to  be  defeated?  And  yet  in  that  m.ad,  that  ruin- 
ous strife,  see  how  many  are  engaged  ?  Behold  the 
stars  in  their  course  ranged  on  the  part  of  their  Crea- 
tor ;  behold  all  nature  standing  in  arms  to  espouse  his 
cause  ;  and  w-ho  must  be  overcome  ?  Against  whom 
is  this  formidable  preparation  made  ?  There  stands  the 
enemy,  in  all  his  weakness  and  folly  ;  a  crawling  \Aorm 
on  a  dunghill,  provokinghis  fate,  tampering  with  eter- 
nal ruin,  hardening  himself  against  God,  and  yet  think- 
ing to  prosper.  The  influence  of  no  malignant  star  is 
necessary  ,to  blast  him  :  there  is  a  necessity  for  no 


S^  fflSTORY  OF   MOSES.  •      LECT.  VI. 

earthquake  to  swallow  him  up  :  no  archangel  armed 
M'ith  a  sword  of  fire,  need  descend  to  cut  liim  asunder  ; 
his  breath  is  in  his  own  nostrils  ;  he  is  siiikiag  into 
his  dust  ;  his  own  ridiculous  efforts  are  wasting  and 
consuming  him.  Foolish  creature  and  unwise  !  why 
wilt  thou  contend  longer?  "  Wherefore  shouldst 
thou  be  stricken  any  more?  "  Constrain  not  him  to 
be  thy  foe  who  has  towards  thee  the  disposition  of  the 
best  of  friends,  and  who  is  mighty  to  save,  even  *'  to 
the  uttermost,  them  that  come  unto  him." 

Fifthly,  In  the  course  of  these  dreadful  plagues,  we 
observe,  not  only  the  pride  of  man  effectually  humbled, 
but  the  power  of  Satan  trampled  in  the  dust,  urider  the 
feet  of  the  Most  High.  It  is  highly  interesting  to  ob- 
serve, by  what  gradual  steps  the  enemy  and  the  avenger 
is  laid  low,  till  he  is  at  length  destroyed.  Presumption, 
at  first  induces  him,  in  confidence  of  a  permitted  power, 

i  to  enter  the  lists  and  to  try  his  strength  with   God. 

I  Aaron's  rod  is  turned  into  a  serpent.     The  magicians 

attempt  the  same,  and  succeed.  Their  rods  also  be- 
come serpents.  But  Aaron's  rod  swallowed  up  their 
rods.  By  and  by  the  water  of  the  river  is  turned  into 
blood,  and  the  fishes  die.  The  magicians,  by  their  en- 
chantments, inadly  assist  the  plague,  and  acquire  a 
little  transitory  reputation,  by  doing  mischief.  Flush- 
ed with  this  farther  success,  they  go  on  to  imitate  the 
miracles  of  r-Ioses  and  Aaron;  but,  to  their  confusion, 
they  fail  there,  where  it  seemed  most  probable  that  they 
should  with  greatest  ease  support  their  f^me.  That 
loathsome  vermin,  lice,  is  to  beproduced  miraculously, 
which  slovenliness  and  filth  naturally  produce  without 
any  effort.  At  the  word  of  Moses,  the  dust  of  the 
land  is  traiisformed  into  this  noisome,  nauseous  insect. 
But  die  whole  power  of  hell  cannot  effect,  at  the  time, 

t  and  in  the  manner    which    it    would,    what   time    and 

I  carelessness  alone,  in  the  usual  course  of  things,  would 

certainly  liavj  produced  ;   and  they  feel  themselves  at- 
T;:c::cd  with  a  plague  which  tlieir  art  could  not  brin^- 


LECT.  VI.  MISTORY   OF  MOSES.  8/' 

upon  Others.  Finally,  after  having  become  the  sub- 
jects of  a  miraculous  calamity  which  might  be  borne, 
they  are  at  length  attacked  with  one  absolutely  into- 
lerable, which  drives  them  from  the  competition  :  they 
give  up  their  silly  arts  of  sorcery,  and  attempt  to  rival 
the  true  God  no  more.  And  thus,  when  tise  mystery 
of  godliness  shall  be  finished,  an  astonished  world 
shall  behold  the  sleight  and  devices  of  Satan  falling 
upon  his  own  head,  his  momentary  triumphs  covering 
him  with  more  accumulated  disgrace,  and  his  infer- 
nal malice  and  diabolical  craft  made  ministering  ser- 
vants to  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  God.  A  good 
reason,  among  many  others,  why  we  should  judge  no- 
thing rashly  before  the  lime  till  the  Lord  comcth,  Vvho 
shall  bring  light  out  of  obscurit}',  and  fully  vindicate 
his  ways  to  men. 

Sixthly,  We  observe  how^  unlike  the  latter  ends  of 
things  are  to  their  beginnings.  The  Vvorld.  laughs  at 
the  idea  of  two  feeble  old  men,  issuing  forth  from  a 
desert,  the  patrons  of  liberty ;  to  force  a  mighty 
prince,  and  a  powerful  nation,  to  listen  to  the  dictates 
of  justice  and  humanity,  and  to  liberate  a  million  of 
wretched  creatures,  whose  spirits  were  totally  broken 
by  their  miseries  and  who  seemed  to  have  lost  even 
the  inclination  of  vindicating  their  own  riglits.  Pha- 
raoh despised  them  ;  the  magicians  defied  them  ;  Is- 
rael distrusted  them  ;  they  themselves  are  leady  to  sink 
under  the  difiiculty  and  danger  of  the  enterprise.  But, 
conducted  of  Heaven,  they  attempt,  they  proceed, 
they  prosper,  they  overcome.  They  invade  Egypt, 
two  solitary,  unsupported  individuals  !  They  leave  it 
at  the  head  of  six  hundred  thousand  men,  fit  to  bear 
arms,  with  a  corresponding  number  of  females,  be- 
sides old  men  and  children,,  and  a  mixed  multitude  of 
non-descript  persons  ;  bidding  defiance  to  th.e  Mhole 
force  of  a  wise,  and  populous,  and  warlike  country. 
And  we  see  them  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  taking 


8^  MISTOKY  OF  MOSES.  1.ECT.  VI. 

forcible  possession  of  one  of  the  strongest,  most  im- 
practicable and  best  defended  countries  in  the  world. 
I  need  but  hint  to  you  the  counterpart  of  this.  Be- 
hold the  unconnected  son  of  a  carpenter,  at  the  head 
of  twelve  simple  illiterate  fishermen,  attacking  the 
religious  establishments  of  the  whole  globe,  and  pre- 
vailing, liehold  him,  armed  with  a  few  plain  facts, 
and  a  few  doctrines  as  plain,  overturning  the  whole 
fabric  of  heathen  mythology  and  worship  ;  ingrafting 
on  the  stock  of  ?>loses,  imd  the  legal  dispensation,  a 
scion  from  a  nobler  root ;  which  has  swallowed  up  the 
parent  tree,  has  filled  the  earth  with  its  branches,  is 
feeding  the  nations  to  this  day  with  its  fruit,  and  is 
likely  to  maintain  its  place  till  all  the  gracious  purposes 
of  Heaven  arc  accomplished.  "  It  is  the  Lord's  doing, 
and  it  is  marvellous  in  our  eyes."  "  When  the  world 
by  wisdom  knew  not  God,  it  pleased  God  by  the  fool- 
ishness of  preaching,  to  save  them  that  believe." 
The  next  lecture  will,  by  divine  favor,  exhibit  the 
institution  and  celebration  of  the  first  passover,  with 
the  event  which  gave  occasion  to  it.  May  God  bless 
what  has  been  spoken.  To  him  be  glory  and  honor 
forever  and  ever. 


t> 


HISTORY  OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  VI r. 

4?id  the  Lord  spake  nnio  Moses  and  Aaron  in  the 
land  of  Egypt^  saif??ig.  This  month  shall  be  unto 
i)ou  the  hrginniv.g  of  movdhs ;  it  shall  be  ihejirst 
month  of  the  year  to  you.  Speak  unto  all  the  con- 
gregation of  Israel,  sayings  In  the  tenth  day  of 
this  month  they  shall  take  to  them,  every  man  a 
lamb,  according  to  the  house  of  their  fathers^  a 
lamb  for  an  house. ...Rxobus  xii.  1...3. 

IN  the  history  of  all  nations,  tliere  are  eras  and 
events  of  a  peculiar  importance,  which  extend 
their  infuierice  to  future  ages  and  generations,  and  are 
fondly  commemorated  by  latest  posterity.  Hence, 
every  day  of  the  revolving  year  becomes,  in  its  course, 
to  one  people  or  another,  the  anniversary  of  something 
memorable  which  befel  their  forefathers,  and  is  re- 
membered by  their  sons  with  triumph  or  with  sorrow. 
Most  of  the  religious  observances  which  have  obtain- 
ed in  the  world,  when  traced  up  to  their  source,  arc 
found  to  originate  in  providential  dispensations;  and 
histor>-  thereby  beco-aes  the  best  interpreter  of  customs 
and  manners.  It  i.>  a  most  amusing  employment,  to 
observe  the  operation  and  progress  of  the  human  mind 
in  this  respect ;  and  to  consider  how  variously  differ- 
ent men,  and  at  different  periods,  have  contrived  to 
transmit   to   their   children   the   memory   of    similar 


88  IIISTOIIY   or   MOSES.  LECT.   VII. 

achievements,  successes,  or  disasters.  A  great  stone 
set  up  on  end,  a  heap  of  stones,  a  mound  of  earth,  and 
the  like,  were,  in  the  earlier,  ruder,  simpler  state  of  the 
world,  the  monuments  of  victory  ;  and  to  dance  around 
them  with  songs,  on  an  appointed  day,  was  the  rustic 
commemoration  of  their  rude  and  simple  posterity. 
The  triumphs  and  the  deaths  of  heroes  came,  in  pro- 
cess of  time,  to  be  remembered  with  convivality  and 
mirth,  or  with  plaintive  strains  and  solemn  dirges.  The 
hoary  bard  varied  and  enlightened  the  feast,  by  adapting 
to  his  rough  voice  or  rougher  harp  the  uncouth  rhymes 
which  he  himself  had  composed,  in  praise  of  departed 
gallantry  and  virtue.  As  arts  Vi^ere  invented  and  improv- 
ed, tlie  wise,  the  brave  and  the  good  were  preserved  from 
oblivion  by  monuments  more  elegant,  more  intelligible^ 
and  more  lasting.  A  more  correct  style  of  poetry,  and 
a  sweeter  melody  v/ere  cultivated.  Sculpture  and 
painting  conveyed  to  children's  children  an  exact  re- 
presentation of  the  limbs  and  lineaments  of  the  vener- 
able men  who  adorned,  who  instructed,  who  saved 
their  country.  And  thus,  though  dead,  they  continued 
to  live  and  act  in  the  animated  caiwass,  in  the  breath- 
ing brass,  or  the  speaking  marble.  At  length,  the 
pen  of  the  historian  took  up  the  cause  of  merit,  and 
diftused  over  the  \vho!e  globe,  and  handed  dou'n  to  the 
very  end  of  time  the  knowledge  of  the  persons  and  of 
the  actions  which  should  never  die. 

We  are  this  evening  to  bestow  our  attention  upon 
an  institution  altogether  of  divine  appointment,  intend- 
ed to  record  an  event  of  singular  importance  to  the  na- 
tion immediately  affected  by  it,  and  which,  according 
to  its  intention  and  its  consequences,  has  involved  a 
great  part  of  mxankind. 

Moses  and  Aaron  having,  as  the  instruments  in  the 
hand  of  Providence,  chastised  Egypt  ^v•ith  nine  suc- 
cessive and  severe  plagues,  infiictcd  in  the  view  of  pro- 
curing Israel's  release,  are  at  length  dissmissed  by  the 
unrelenting  tyrant,  with  a  threatening  of  certain  death, 


LECT.  VII.  HISTORY   OF  MOSES.  S^ 

should  they  ever  again  presume  to  come  into  his  pre- 
sence. Moses  takes  him  at  his  word,  and  bids  him 
a  solenin,  a  long,  and  everlasting  farewell.  When 
men  have  finally  banished  from  them  their  advisers 
and  n:onitors,  and  when  God  has  ceased  to  be  a  re- 
prover to  them,  their  destruction  cannot  be  very  dis- 
tant. Better  it  is  to  have  the  law  to  alarm,  to  threaten 
and  chastise  us,  than  to  ha\c  it  in  anger  altogether 
withdrawn.  Better  is  a  conscience  that  disturbs  and 
vexes  than  a  conscience  laid  fast  asleep,  than  a  con- 
science "  seared  as  with  a  hot  iron." 

What  solemn  preparation  is  made  for  the  tenth  and 
last  av.-ful  plague  of  Egypt !  God  is  about  to  reckon 
with  Pharaoh  and  his  subjects,  for  the  blood  of  the 
Israelitish  male  children,  doomed  from  the  womb  to 
death  by  his  cruel  edict.  His  eye  pitied  not  nor  spar- 
ed the  anguish  of  thousands  of  wretched  mothers,  be- 
reaved of  their  children  the  instant  they  x^^ere  born  ; 
and  a  righteous  God  pities,  spares  him  not,  in  the  day 
of  visitation. 

The  circumstances  attending  this  tremendous  cala- 
mity are  strikingly  calculated  to  excite  horror.  First, 
God  himself  is  the  immediate  author  of  it.  Hitherto 
He  had  plagued  Egypt  by  means  and  instruments  ; 
*'  Stretchout  thy  hand  :"  "  Say  unto  Aaron,  Stretch 
forth  thy  hand  with  thy  rod."  But  now  it  is,  "  I  will 
go  out  into  the  midst  of  Egypt."  And  it  came  to 
pass  that  at  midnight  the  Lord  smote  all  'he  firstborn 
in  the  land  of  Egypt  from  the  first-born  of  Pharaoh 
that  sat  on  his  throne,  unto  the  first-born  of  the  cap- 
tive that  was  in  the  dungeon,  and  all  the  first-born  of 
cattle."  As  mercies  coming  immediately  from  the 
hand  of  our  heavenly  Father  are  sweeter  and  better 
than  those  which  are  communicated  through  the  chan- 
nel of  the  creature ;  so  judp:ments,  issuing  directly 
from  the  stores  of  divine  wrath  are  more  teiriblc  and. 
overwhelming.  The  sword  of  an  invading  foe  is  a 
dreadful  thing,  but  infinitely  more  dreadful  is  the  sword 

VOL.   II.  u 


90  KISTORY   OP   MOS£S.  tEeT.   VII, 

of  a  destroying  angel,  or  the  uplifted  hand  of  God 
himself. 

Secondly,  The  nature  and  quality  of  the  calamity 
greatly  increase  the  ^veight  of  it.  It  is  a  wound  there 
where  the  heart  is  most  susceptible  of  pain ;  an  evil 
which  undermines  hope  ;  hope,  our  refuge  and  our 
remedy  under  other  evils.  The  return  of  another  favo- 
rable season,  may  repair  the  wastes  and  compensate 
the  scarcity  of  that  which  preceded  it.  A  b5dy  ema- 
ciated or  ulcerated  all  over,  may  recover  strength,  and 
be  restored  to  soimdness  ;  and  there  is  hope  that  the 
light  of  the  sun  may  return,  even  after  a  thick  dark- 
ness of  three  days.  But  what  kindness  of  nature, 
what  happy  concurence  of  circumstances,  can  re-ani- 
mate the  breathless  clay,  can  restore  an  only  son,  a 
first-born,  stricken  with  death? 

The  universality  of  this  destruction  is  a  third  horrid 
aggravation  of  its  woe.  It  fell  with  equal  severity  on  all 
ranks  and  conditions  ;  en  the  prince  and  the  peasant ; 
on  the  master  and  the  slave.  From  every  house  the 
voice  of  misery  bursts  forth.  No  one  is  ^o  much  at 
leisure  from  his  own  distress  as  to  pity,  soothe  or  re- 
lieve that  of  his  wretched  neighbor. 

Fourthly,  The  blow  was  struck  at  the  awful  mid- 
night hour,  when  every  object  assumes  a  more  sable 
hue  ;  when  fear,  aided  by  darkness,  magnifies  to  a 
gigantic  size,  and  clothes  in  a  more  hideous  shape  the 
real  and  fantastical,  the  seen  and  tlie  unseen  distur- 
bers of  silence  and  repose.  To  be  prematurely  awak- 
ened out  of  sleep  by  the  dying  groans  of  a  friend  sud- 
denly smitten,  to  be  presented  with  a  ghastly  image  of 
death  in  a  darling  object  lately  seen  and  enjoyed  in 
perfect  health,  to  be  forced  to  the  aknovvledgment  of 
the  great  and  holy  Lord  God,  by  such  an  awful  demon- 
stration of  his  presence  and  pov.er  !  whatteror  and  as-, 
tonishment  could  equal  this  ? 

The  keen  reflection  that  all  this  accumulated  dis- 
tress might  have  been  prevented,  was  another  cruel  in- 


LECT.  VII.        HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  i)l 

grcdicut  in  the  embittered  cup.  How  would  they 
now  accuse  their  desperate  madness,  in  provoking-  a 
power,  which  had  so  often  and  so  forcibly  warned  them 
of  their  danger  ■?  If  Pharaoh  were  not  past  feeling, 
how  dreadful  must  have  been  the  pangs  wliieh  he  felt, 
while  he  reflected,  that  after  attempting  to  destroy  a 
hapless,  helple-ss  race  of  strangers,  v.  ho  lay  at  his  mer- 
cy, by  the  most  unheard-of  cruelty  and  oppression,  he 
had  now  ruined  his  own  country,  by  an  obstinate 
pei^scverance  in  folly  and  impiety  ;  that  he  had  become 
the  curse  and  the  punishment  of  a  nation,  of  which 
he  was  bound  by  his  office  to  be  the  father  and  pro- 
tector ;  and  that  his  own  hopes  were  now  blasted  in 
their  fairest,  most  flattering  object,  the  heir  of  his 
throne  and  empire,  because  he  regarded  not  the  rights 
of  humanity  and  mercy  in  the  treatment  of  his  vassals. 
Finally,  if  their  anguish  admitted  of  a  still  higlier 
aQTSTravation,  the  distinction  from  first  to  last  made  be- 
tween  them  and  Israel,  the  blessed  exemption  vrhich 
the  oppressed  Hebrews  had  enjoyed  from  all  these  ca- 
lamities, especially  from  this  last  death,  must  have  been 
peculiarly  mortifying  and  afflictive.  '*  But  against 
any  of  the  children  of  Israel  shall  not  a  dog  move  his 
tongue,  against  man  or  beast ;  that  ye  may  know  how 
that  the  Lord  doth  put  a  difference  between  the  Egyp- 
tians and  Israel."  This  partakes  of  the  nature  of  that 
misery  vvhich  the  damned  endure;  who  are  represented 
as  having  occasional,  distant  and  transitory  glimpses  of 
the  blessedness  of  heaven,  only  for  their  punishment, 
only  to  heighten  the  pangs  of  their  ovvu  torments.  Of 
the  approach  of  their  other  woes,  these  unhappy  per- 
sons had  been  repeatedly  warned.  But  this,  it  would 
appear,  came  upon  them  suddenh'  and  in  a  moment. 
They  had  gone  to  rest  in  security.  The  short  respite 
which  they  enjoyed  from  suffering  had  stilled  their  ap- 
prehension ;  "surely,"  said  they,  "  the  bitterness  of 
death  is  past."  But  ah!  it  is  on!v  the  deceitful  calm 
which  precedes  the  hurricane  or  the  earthquake.     Let 


9Q  HISTORY   OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VII. 

men  never  dream  of  repose  from  the  righteous  judg- 
ment of  God,  whatever  thay  may  have  already  endured, 
till  they  have  forsaken  their  sins,  and  fled  for  refuge  in 
the  divine  mercy. 

It  is  now  worth  while  to  consider  the  notice  given  to 
God's  own  people  of  this  approaching  evil,  and  the 
means  which  were  appointed  and  employed  to  secure 
them  from  being  involved  in  the  general  ruin.  The 
event  so  destructive  to  Egypt,  was  intended  to  be  the 
era  cf  their  liberty,  and  the  means  of  their  deliverance. 
They  had  hitherto  reckoned  the  beginning  of  their  year 
from  the  month  Tisri,  which  answers  to  our  Septem- 
ber ;  which,  as  they  supposed,  was  the  time  Vv-hcn  the 
creation  was  begun  and  comj>leted  ;  but  they  are  now 
positively  enjoined  to  begin  to  reckon  from  the  month 
Abib  or  Nisan,  that  is  March,  in  memory  of  a  new 
creation  ;  whereby  their  condition  was  totally  changed, 
from  servitude  of  the  most  abject  kind,  into  freedom 
the  most  exalted  and  perfect,  even  the  glorious  liberty 
of  the  sons  of  God.  They  are  distinctly  informed  of 
the  stroke  which  Providence  was  meditating  against 
Egypt,  and  of  the  precise  time  when  the  blow  was  to 
be  struck.  They  are  accordingly  directed  to  two 
things ;  First,  to  provide  for  their  own  safety  ;  and 
Secondly,  to  hold  themselves  in  perfect  readiness  to 
take  advantage  of  the  permission  to  depart,  which  the 
panic  occasioned  by  the  death  of  the  first-born  should 
extort  from  Pharaoh.  For  the  former  of  these  purpo- 
ses, every  particular  family,  or  the  two  adjoining,  in 
pro])ortion  to  their  numbers,  the  lowest,  according  to 
the  Jewish  writers,  being  not  under  ten,  nor  the  high- 
est above  tucnty,  v/ere  commanded  to  clioose  out,  and 
to  set  apart,  every  houseiiokl,  a  male  lamb,  or  kid,  of 
a  particular  description,  on  the  tenth  day  of  the  month, 
and  to  kill  it  oji  the  evening  of  Use  fourteenth.  The 
flo'sh  of  the  victim  was  commanded  to  be  eaten  by 
every  £e\era!  household  apart,  roasted  v.ith  fire.  Tlity 
',  ere  all  eiiioined  carefii'.'v  to  kec")  within  tb.t^ir  houses. 


lECT.   VII,  IIISTOIIY   or    MOSES.  ^^$ 

And  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice  uus  to  be  taken  and 
sprinkled  on  the  two  side-posts,  and  tlie  upper  door- 
posts of  every  house  wiicrc  it  was  eaten.  This  sprink- 
ling of  the  blood  was  to  be  the  token  of  God's  cove- 
nant, and  a  protection  to  the  families  so  distinguished, 
from  the  sword  cf  the  avenging  niigcl. 

But,  a  positive  institution  so  immediately  from  hea- 
ven, an  institution  so  full  of  meaning  and  instruction, 
of  such  celebrity  in  the  history  of  the  world,  and  con- 
nected so  closely  with  an  ordinance  of  still  greater 
notoriety,  and  of  much  more  extensive  infiuence,  an 
ordinance  of  much  longer  duration,  and  wliich  com- 
memorates an  event  of  infinitely  greater  importance, 
surely  demands  the  most  minute  attention,  and  the 
most  serious  inquiry.  We  pretend  not  to  compre- 
hend, and  therefore  undertake  not  to  explain  e\eiy 
particular  circumstance  of  this  solemn,  divine  institu- 
tion :  but  the  moral  and  religious  design  is,  in  genera!^ 
so  ohvious,  that  a  reader  of  ordinary  capacity  has  b^vt 
to  run  over  with  a  common  dcQ:ree  of  seriousness  and 
attention,  in  ^order  to  understand  what  the  Spirit  of 
God  is  saying  in  it,  for  the  edification  of  mankind. 

And  first,  God  was  about  to  distinguishJ'^.rael  by 
special  marks  of  his  favor.  In  order  to  this,  they 
must  carefully  distinguish  themselves  by  a  punctual 
observance  of  his  com.mand.  Is  more  expected  of  an 
Israelite  than  of  an  Egyptian  ?  Undoubtedly.  The 
blessings  which  come  down  from  above,  from  tlic 
Father  of  lights  are  not  mere  arbitrary  and  eapriciouo 
effusions  of  liberality,  falling  upon  one  spot,  and  pass- 
ing by  another,  without  reason  or  design.  No,  they 
are  the  wise  and  gracious  recompense  of  an  intelligent, 
observing  and  discriminating  Parent,  to  fuithful,  c-filc- 
tionate  and  obedient  children.  Israel  had  been  fuic- 
warned  of  the  ensuing  danger  to  no  purpose,  had  one 
iota  or  title  relating  to  the  ordinance  of  the  paschiil 
lamb  been  neglected.  Calamity  is  to  be  :.Vv  ided,  not 
by  foreknow  ing  that  it  draws  nigh,  but  b}'  ruj.ning  to 


94  niSTOllY   OF   MOSES.  LECT.   VII. 

a  place  of  safety.  Salvation  by  Christ  consists,  not 
merely  in  head-knowledge  of  his  person,  doctrine  and 
work  ;  but  in  a  cordial  receiving  and  resting  upon  hiai 
tilone  for  salvation,  as  he  is  fiecly  oflered  to  us  in  the 
gospel,  for  "  wisdom,  righteousness  and  sanctifica- 
tion,  and  redemption."  The  careful  selection,  then, 
of  a  proper  victim,  and  the  exact  application  of  it, 
according  to  the  commandment,  have  a  plain  and  an 
i  n  s  tr  u  c t  i  V  e  mea  n  i  ri  g. 

Secondly,  As  Israel  was  to  depart  in  haste,  the  Spi- 
rit of  God  was  pleased  to  enjoin  a  memorial  of  that 
haste,  in  the  quality  of  the  bread  which  thc_v  were  to 
use,  during  the  celebration  of  this  festival.  When 
liberty,  dear  liberty  is  in  view,  who  so  silly  as  to  care 
whether  the  taste  be  gratified  or  not,  for  a  few  days, 
with  a  less  palatable  kind  of  food  ?  Our  most  perfect 
enjoyments  in  this  world,  and  our  highest  attainments, 
have  a  mixture  of  bitterness  or  of  insipidity  attending 
them  :  like  the  flesh  of  lambs  eaten  with  bitter  herbs, 
and  unfermented  bread.  The  Jews,  we  know,  were 
singularly  diligent  and  curious,  in  searching  out  and 
removing  from  their  houses  every  thing  leavened,  du- 
ing  this  sacred  season.  With  superstitious  scrupu- 
lousness, they  prepared  unleavened  bread  for  them- 
selves, and  the  poor,  for  months  before  the  solemn 
day  arrived.  A  few  days  previous  to  the  feast  they 
cleansed  all  their  vessels  and  furniture.  What  could 
Stand  the  fire,  they  purified  with  fire  ;  what  could  not, 
they  dipped  in  or  rinsed  with  water.  Their  marble 
mortars  they  had  hallowed  anew.  The  night  prececd- 
jng  the  day  of  unleavened  bread,  they  lighted  V\'ax 
tapers,  and  prepared  for  a  general  search  after  every 
remainder  of  leaven.  The  master  of  tr»e  family  began 
the  ceremony  with  this  solemn  address  to  God ; 
"  blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord,  who  hast  commanded  us 
to  put  away  all  that  is  leavened  out  of  our  houses." 
AH  the  males  of  the  household  ;  master,  children,  do- 
mestics, assisted  in  searching  the  whole  house  over, 


LF.CT.   VII.  HISTORY    OF   MOSES.  .""S 

and  examined  into  the  most  secret  corners,  lest  pcrad- 
venture  some  lurking  particle  of  leavened  bread,  or 
fermented  dough,  might  have  been  overlooked,  in 
order  to  its  being  destroyed.  As  if  this  hr.d  not  been 
sufficient,  that  the  lankily  might  be  purged  of  at  least 
all  intentional  violation  of  the  commandment,  the  fa- 
ther of  it  concluded  the  search  with  this  solemn  exe- 
cration :  *'  Let  all  the  leaven  that  is  in  my  house,  and 
which  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  out  or  to  remove, 
be  scattered,  and  become  like  the  smallest  dust  of  the 
earth."  An  inspired  apostle  is  our  interpreter  of  this 
part  of  the  paschal  observance  ;  so  that  we  can  be  at 
no  loss  about  the  meaning  of  the  Spirit  in  its  institu- 
tion. "Purge  out  therefore  the  old  leaven,  that  ye 
may  be  a  new  lump,  as  ye  are  unleavened.  For  even 
Christ  our  passover  is  sacriliced  for  us.  Therefore 
let  lis  keep  the  feast,  not  with  old  leaven  ;  neliher  with 
the  leaven  of  malice  and  wickedness  ;  but  with  the 
unleavened  bread  of  sincerity  and  truth,  1  Cor.  v.  7,  8. 
The  scrupulous  exactness  of  the  Jews,  in  their  literal 
obedience  to  the  commandment,  is  a  severe  and  just 
reproof  of  many,  too  many  professing  christians,  who 
rush  to  the  celebration  of  the  gospel  passover  \\ith  lit- 
tle preparation  or  seriousness  ;  and  some,  alas  !  de- 
liberately hoarding  up  in  their  hearts,  and  secretly, 
greedily  feeding  upon  "  the  old  leaven  cf  malice  and 
wickedness." 

Thirdly,  the  victim  itself  claims  our  most  serious- 
attention.  "  A  male  lamb,  of  the  first  year,"...."  with- 
out blemish,"  to  be  taken,  on  the  tenth  day  of  the 
month,  from  his  dam,  kept  apart  for  four  days,  and 
then  killed  !  These  are  all  tender  and  touching  consi- 
derations. "  A  lamb  ;"  The  most  innocent  and  gen- 
tle of  animals,  in  the  iut-a  and  the  language  of  all  ages 
and  nations,  another  name  for  gentleness,  harmlessness 
and  simplicity  ;  removed  early  from  its  only  comfort 
and  protection,  its  fond  mother's  side  ;  deprived  of 
liberty,  and  destined  to  bleed  by  the  sacrificing  knife. 


06  TtlSTORV  OF    MOSES.  LECT.  VII. 

Who  can  think  of  his  plaintive  bleatings,  during  the 
days  oi'  separation,  wiihout  being  melted  ?  What  Is- 
raelitish  heart  so  insensible,  as  not  to  yearn  at  the 
thought,  that  his  own  life,  and  the  comfort  of  his  fa- 
mily, were  to  be  preserved,  at  the  expense  of  the  life 
of  that  irioffensive  little  creature,  whom  he  had  shut 
up  for  the  slaughter,  and  which,  in  unsuspicious  con- 
fidence, licked  the  hand  lifted  up  to  shed  its  blood  ? 

We  huAe  not  long  to  search  for  the  spirit  and  sub- 
stance cf  this  part  of  the  institution  :  for  a!'  scripture 
presses  upon  our  notice,  the  *'  Lamb  of  God,  who 
taketh  awny  the  sin  of  the  world;"  slain,  "in  the 
eternal  purpose,  from  and  before  the  foundation  of  the 
world  ;  holy,  harmless,  and  undefiled  ;"  "  delivered  by 
the  determinate  counsel  and  foreknowledy:e  of  God," 
Acts  ii.  '23....suiTering  "the  just  for  the  unjust,  that 
he  might  bring  us  to  God."  "  Who  was  wounded  for 
our  transgressions,  who  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities: 
the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  him,  awd  with 
his  stripes  we  are  healed  :"  the  Lord  laying  on  him 
"  the  iniquity  of  us  all ;''  withdrawn,  separated  from 
the  bosoin  of  his  Father.  ...delivered  into  the  hands  of 
men.  ..pouring  out  his  soul  unto  death. 

It  was  to  be  "  a  lamb  of  the  fj^st  yea?-,''''  eight  days 
old  at  the  least ;  a  year  at  the  most.  Not  less  than 
eight  days,  say  the  Jews,  that  there  might  intervene 
one  sabbath  from  the  birth  of  the  victim,  and  that  so 
the  sacredncss  of  this  holy  festival  might  render  it 
worthy  of  being  offered  unto  God.  Alore  probably, 
because  that,  till  then,  the  animal  was  considered  as 
to<.)  near  ir  state  of  imperfection  or  impurity.  It  was 
not  to  exceed  one  year  ;  because  to  that  age  it  retains 
its  iamblike  harmlessness  and  simplicity.  Superstition, 
which  is  CA-er  sinking  tlie  spirit  in  the  letter,  has  as- 
serted, that  a  single  hour  beyond  the  year  vitiated  the 
victim,  and  rendered  it  profane. 

But  the,  figure  without  straining  for  a  resemblance 
presents  unto  us  Jesus,  "  a  Son  born,    and  a  Saviour 


I.ECT.   VIT.  KISTORT  Or  MOSES.  97 

given  : "  ours  from  the  manger,  ours  to  tlie  tomb.  His 
days  cut  offin  the  midst;  at  that  period  of  lile  when 
men  arc  coming  to  their  prime  oi'  vigor,  beauty  and 
usefuhicss.  "  A  lamb  without  bleniisli."  Those  who 
love  to  fritter  away  the  spirit  and  meaning  of  divine 
institutions  in  liieral  interpretation,,  have  gone  into  a 
particular  enumeration  of  the  various  kinds  of  blem- 
ishes which  disqualified  a  sacrifice  upon  this  occasion  ; 
and  these  they  have  multiplied  to  cor.siderably  above 
fifty.  And  what  folly  has  taken  pains  to  invent,  super- 
stition has  been  idle  and  weak  enough  to  follow.  Tiie 
latter  Rabbins  tell  us,  that  the  iamb  v/as  set  apart  for 
four  days  before  the  sacrifice,  in  order  to  afford  leisure 
and  opportunity  to  inquire  into  its  soundness  and  per- 
fection; that  if  any  unobserved  spot  should  appear, 
there  might  be  time  to  reject  it,  and  to  substitute  an- 
other in  its  room.  The  law  itself  is  plain  and  simple  ; 
and  no  good  Israelite,  of  common  sense,  with  the 
sacred  character  in  his  hand,  could  possibly  mistake  its 
meaning  ;  which  is  sim.ple  to  signify,  that  the  good 
God  is  to  be  served  with  the  choicest  and  best  of  every 
thinsr.  But  the  law  evidentiv  looked  further  than  to 
the  mere  corpora!  perfection  or  deiccts  of  a  silly  lamb  ; 
and  we  should  but  ill  understand  both  the  text  and  the 
commentary,  did  we  not  look  through  the  whole  type 
to  Him  who  is  "  without  spot  and  blemish;"  ^\ho 
though  born  of  a  sinful  mother,  "  did  no  sin  ;"  who 
lived  m.any  years  in  the  "  midst  of  a  sinful  and  adul- 
terous generation,"  without  contracting  any  taint  of 
moral  pollution  ;  in  whom  '*  the  prince  of  this  world, 
when  he  came  found  nothing  ;''  and  whom  his  agents, 
Judas  and  Pontius  Pilate,  the  instruments  of  his  con- 
demnation and  death,  were  constnviiied  to  acquit.  "  I 
have  sinned,  and  betrayed  innoceiu  blood;"  said  the 
one.  "  Take  ye  him  and  crucify  him,  for  I  fmd  no 
fault  in  him,"  said  the  other.  "  And  when  the  cen- 
turion saw  what  was  done  he  said,  Surelv  this  was  the 
Son  of  God!" 

X'OL.   U.  N 


98  HISTORY   OP   MOSES.  LECT.   TH 

The  very  act  of  selecting  the  one  victim  from  among 
many,  must  have  been  an  affecting  office.  Why  should 
ttiis  innocent  creature  bleed  and  die,  rather  than  ano- 
ther ?  Why  should  the  notice  of  my  eye,  or  his  acci- 
dently  presenting  himself  the  first  of  the  flock,  or  his 
superier  beauty  and  strensrth,  or  the  determination  of 
the  lot,  doom  him,  in  picference,  to  the  slaughter? 
But  one  must  die.  Here  the  choice  is  fixed  ;  and  pity 
must  not  spare  V,  hat  Heaven  has  demanded.  These 
emotions  of  compassion  must  have  been  frequently 
excited  during  the  four  days  of  separation.  The  plain- 
tive bleating,  issuing  frorrt  a  tender,  aching  heart,  rob- 
bed at  once  of  its  natural  food,  protection  and  com- 
fort;  feeling  the  bitterness  of  death  in  the  deprivation 
of  maternal  care  and  tenderness  ;  the  mournfully 
pleasing  employment  of  supplying-  the  devoted  victim 
with  aliment,  up  to  the  appointed  hour  ;  the  cherishing 
and  sustaining  with  solicitude,  that  life  to-day,  which 
the  strong  hand  of  necessity  must  take  av/ay  to-morrow; 
all  these  awakening  a  thousand  undiscribable  feelings. 
How  the  heart  is  wrong,  as  often  as  the  eye,  or  the  ear, 
or  the  hand,  is  attracted  to  attend  or  to  minister  to  the 
little  trcmbiin_£^  prisoner  !  xA.t  leiigth  the  fatal  moment 
is  corne  ;  and  the  aiHicting  alternatives  presses,  "  This 
innocent,  or  my  o^^  n  first-born  must  suffer.  If  my 
heart  relent,  lo,  the  flaming  sv.ord  of  the  destroying 
angel  is  within  my^  habitation.  My  resolution  is  form- 
ed. There  is  no  room  for  deliberation.  Die  thou,  that 
my  son  may  live." 

But  the  paschal  victim  could  have  no  presentiment 
of  its  approaching  fate.  Haj:)py  in  its  ignorance,  it 
could  die  but  once.  Christians  need  your  eyes  be 
directed  to  your  great  gospel  passovcr?  Behold,  your 
atonement. ...deliberately  chosen  of  God  ;  fixed  upon, 
in  the  maturity  of  eternal  counsels  ;  under  the  pressure 
of  the  great  decree  ;  voluntarily  presenting  and  sur- 
rendering himself  !....Beli0id  him  continually  admon- 
ished of  his  approaching  sufferings  and  death  ;  by  his 


LF.Cr.   VII.  niSTORY   OF   MOSES.  V9 

oun  divine  presence,  by  the  perpetual  insults  and  vio- 
lence of  wicked,  men,  by  the  descent  of  Moses  and 
E!i:vs  to  t!ie  motnit  (jf  transfiguration.  "  The  decease 
which  he  should  accomplish  at  length  at  Jerusalem," 
was  continually  assuming  a  blacker  and  a  blacker  com- 
plexion, from  being  foreseen,  foreknown,  and  more 
keenly  felt,  as  the  hour  drew  nigh.  Lo,  he  "  treads 
the  wine-press  alone."  The  dreadful  conflict  is  begun. 
What  "  strong  crying  with  tears"  do  I  hear  ?  "Fa- 
ther, if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me." 
What  "  great  drops  of  blood"  do  I  see,  distilling 
from  every  pore,  and  *'  falling  to  the  ground '?"  Ah  ! 
The  unrelenting  executionei'  has  begun  to  perform  his 
infernal  task  :  and  yet,  the  bleeding  "  Lamb  opens 
not  his  mouth.."  What  sigh  is  that  which  pierces  my 
soul?  What  strange  accents  burst  upon  my  astonish- 
ed ear  ?  "My  God  !  My  God  !  why  hast  thou  forsaken 
me  ?"  The  conflict  is  at  an  end.  He  bows  his  head,  "  it 
is  finished."  The  victim  has  "  poured  out  his  soul 
unto  death."  He  has  given  up  the  ghost.  These 
"  things  the  angels  desire  to  look  into." 

"  O  the  depth  of  the  riches,  both  of  the  wisdom, 
and  love  of  God !  How  unsearchable  are  his  judg- 
ments," and  his  ways  past  finding  out!"  Who  can 
"  comprehend  what  is  the  breadth,  and  length,  and 
height:"  who  "  can  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which 
passeth  knowledge ! " 


■— Wi  JM.IIHII 


HISTORY  OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  VIII. 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass  xvlitnyour  children  shall  say 
unto  you,  IVkat  mean  you  by  this  service  f  That  ye 
shall  say.  It  is  the  sacrifice  of  the  Lord^s  Passover^ 
zvho  passed  over  the  houses  of  the  children  of  Israel 
in  Egypt,  when  he  smote  the  Egyptians,  and  deliver- 
ed our  houses.  And  the  people  bowed  the  head  and 
tvorshi/)ped. ,. .JLxoDU s  xii.  2S,  27. 

WITH  PSALJi  xci.  5. ..8. 

Thou  shall  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror  by  niglif,  nor 
for  the  arrow  that  Jiieth  by  day  ;  nor  for  the  pesti- 
lence thai  toalketh  in  darkness  ;  nor  for  the  destruc- 
tion iJiat  zaasteth  at  noon-day.  A  thousand  shall 
fall  at  thy  side,  and  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand  ; 
hut  it  shall  not  conic  nigh  thee.  Only  ivith  thine 
eyes  shalt  thou  behold,  and  see  the  reward  of  the 
wicked. 

THE  great  Jehovah,  in  all  the  works  of  his  hands, 
and  in  all  the  ways  of  his  providence,  is  ever  pre- 
paring still  grailiSer  displays  of  his  divine  perfection 
than  those  which  have  been  already  submitted  to  our 
view.  This  visible  creation,  fair,  and  vast,  and  mag- 
nificent as  it  is,  being  composed  of  perishing  materials, 


I.ECT.    VIII.  JIISTORY   OP    'lOSES.  101 

and  destined  in  the  eternal  plan,  to  a  tempoi'ary  duir.- 
tion,  is  passing  away,  to  give  place  to  *'  new  heavens, 
and  a  new  earth,  wherein  duelleth  rijhtecisness," 
He  w  ho  made  ail  things^it  firbt  M.ith,  "  Behold,  1  make 
all  thin2;s  ncu."  The  wliole  Jewish  ceremony,  "  The 
adoption,  and  the  glory,  and  the  covenants,  and  the 
giving  of  the  Jaw,  and  the  service  of  God,  and  the 
promises  :''  the  ptitriarchs  and  the  proph.ets,  with  all 
they  said,  acted' a#i  wrote,  were  but  '^  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  gospa  of"  peace  ;"  and  all  is?:ue  in  Clirist 
the  Lord,  *''  in  whom  ;:I1  the  proir/ises  arc  yea,  and 
amen,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Fath.cr.''  And  the 
kingdom  of  grace^  under  the  great  Redeemer,  is  only 
leading  to  the  kingdom  of  glory. 

It  is  botii  pleasant  and  useful,  to  observe  the  natme, 
the  occasion  and  the  design,  of  sacred  institutions,  A 
closer  inspection  generally  discovers  much  more  tl^.an 
is  apparent  at  lirct  sight.  The  ordinaiiCe  of  tlve  passo- 
ver  owes  its  im.titution  to  an  event  of  considerable  im- 
portance in  the  hii;tory  of  mankind  ;  and  its  abr.oga- 
tion  to  a  still  greater#  Its  celebration  commemorates 
the  destruction  of  all  the  first-born  in  Egypt,  and  tiie 
redemption  of  Israel.  Its  abolition  marks  that  mf)st 
memorable  era,  the  death  of  God's  own  eternal  Son, 
and  the  redemption  of  a  lost  world,  by  the  ■s!;iedding 
of  his  precious  blood.  It  is  not  therefore  to  be  won- 
dered at,  if  in  an  ordinance  which  was  intended  to 
expire  in  the  sacrifice  of  the  great  ' '  Lamb  of  Atone- 
ment, slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,"  its 
divine  Author  should  have  thought  proper  to  enjoin 
many  particulars  which  figuratively  and  symbolically 
pointed  out  "  good  things  to  come,"  as  uell  as  liter- 
ally expressed  good  things  present. 

Several  of  these  significant  circumstances,  we  took 
occasion  to  point  out  to  you  in  the  last  Lecture.  Tie 
commencement  of  the  year  was  changed.  The  me- 
mory of  nature's  birth  was  sunk  as  it  were  in  the  me- 
mory of  the  church's  deliverance  j  and  a  joyful  ex- 


102  KISTOIIY   OF   MOSES.  LECT.   VIII. 

pectation  wns  excited  of  the  gradual  approach  of  "  the 
fulness  of  time,"  the  day,  the  r.evv  year's  di-y  of  the 
v/crld's  redemptioD.  in  that  sacred  festi\'al  was  seen 
God  dr?.,viag  nigh  to  his  Israel,  in  loving  kindness, 
tender  mercy  and  falthfclriess-;  and  Israel  drawing- 
nigh  to  their  God,  in  gratitade,  iove  and  obedience. 
The  feast  v/as  prepared  by  tlie  removal  of  all  ieaven, 
the  eiV-bieni  of  "  malice  and  wickedness  ;"  and  eaten 
with  unleavened  bread,  the  emljlen*  of  "  sincerity  and 
truth.''  The  victim  v^^as  appointed  to  be  a  *'  lamb  of 
tJie  first  year,  without  blemish,"  chosen  from  among 
the  Piock,  set  apart  and  killed,  to  preserve  the  life  of 
him  who  pvjured  out,  arid  sprinkled  its  blood ;  the 
figure  of  ll'im  Vvho  was  to  come  ;  "  the  Lamb  of  God, 
Avho  beareth  tb.e  sin  of  the  world  ;"  holy,  harmless,  gen- 
tle, patient ;  "  delivered  aceording  to  the  determinate 
counsel  and  foreknowledge  of  God  ;''  "  suffering,  the 
just,  for  the  unjust,  tliat  he  mi<?:ht  brins^  us  to  God.'^ 
We  are  now  to  continue  the  subject. 

All  Israel  v/as  engaged  in  the  tame  service  at  the 
same  instant  of  time,  and  for  tke  self  same  reason. 
All  had  descended  from  the  same  common  stock,  all 
were  included  within  the  bond  of  the  same  covenant^ 
all  were  involved  in  tlie  same  general  distress,  all  were 
destined  of  Heaven  to  a  participation  in  the  same  sal- 
vation. They  appear,  in  the  paschal  solemnity,  a 
beautiful  and  an  instructive  representation  of  the  great, 
vniited,  harmonious  family  of  God ;  who  are  "  one 
body,  one  spirit,  and  are  called  in  one  hope  of  their 
calling:''  "who  have  one  Lord,  one  faith,  one  bap- 
tism,...and  God  and  Father  of  all,  who  is  above  all, 
through  all,  and  in  all."  And  they  are  all  coming, 
"in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the  knowledge  of 
the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  mea- 
sin-e  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ,"  Eph.  iv. 
4,  5,  6,  18. 

As  the  church  in  general  had  one  and  the  same  sa- 
erifice,   a  lamb  of  the  description  which    has    been 


tECT.  VIII.  msTouy  or  moses.  103 

mcMitioncd ;  so  every  particular  fV.mily  or  neigh- 
borhood, according  to  their  iinn:ber,  had  their  o^\n 
particular  sacrifice,  and  in  that  their  particular 
protection  and  repast.  The  charity-  v/hich  com- 
prciiended  the  whole  Israel  of  God,  was  thus  in- 
vigorated and  enlivened  bv  beinsj  •colleoi.cd  and  con- 
centered  ;  and  the  sacred  fire  of  love,  v\  hich  was  ni 
danger  of  being  extinguished  by  being  disj)ersed  too 
extensively,  being  thus  confined  within  a  narrower  cir- 
cle, lighting  on  fewer  and  nearer  objects,  and  aided  by 
reciprocal  sympathy  and  ardor,  was  blown  up  into  a 
purer  flame.  A  happy  prefiguration  of  tl^e  blessed 
influence  of  the  gospel,  and  of  its  sacred  institutions, 
to  rectify,  to  rivet,  and  tO  improve  the  charities  of  pri- 
vjite  life  ;  to  shed  peace  and  joy  upon  every  condition 
and  relation  ;  gradually  to  expand  tlie  heart,  through 
the  progressive,  continually  enlarging  circles  of  natu- 
ral afi:ection,  friendship,  love  of  country,  love  of  man- 
kind, love  to  ALL  the  creation  of  God. 

What  must  it  have  been  to  an  Israelitish  parent,  stand- 
ing with  his  children  around  him,  to  cat  the  Lord's 
passover,  to  reflect,  that  while  the  arrows  of  tlie  Al- 
mighty were  Killing  thick  upon  the  tents  of  Ham,  his 
tabernacle  was  secured  from  the  stroke  :  that  w  hile  all 
the  first-born  in  Egypt  were  bleeding  by  the  hand  of 
the  destroying  angel :  of  hi'?n,  a  holy  and  righteous 
God  demanded  no  victim,  but  one  from  the  flock  ; 
spared  a  darling  son,  and  accepted  the  blood  of  a  lamb  ! 
What  must  have  been  the  em.otions  of  the  Israelitish 
first-born  themselves,  at  that  awful  hour,  to  reflect  on 
the  state  of  their  unhappy  ntiglibors,  of  the  same  des- 
cription v.ith  ihemrsclves,  and  on  tlieir  own  condition, 
had  justice,  untcrapered  v.  \:\\  mercy,  struck  the  blow  ! 
Such  as  this,  but  superior,  as  the  deliverance  is  greater, 
must  be  the  joy  of  a  trnly  christian  fnnilv,  which  has 
hope  in  God  through  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  in  re- 
flecting on  that  .c;race  wliich  has  made  a  difierence  be- 
tv/een  them  and  their  sir.ful  neighbors ;  which  has  sea- 


104  iilSTOEY    OF  MOSES.  LECT     VIII. 

soiiably  warned  theiTi  "  to  flee  froin  the  wrath  that  is 
to  come;"  Vvhich  has  ''  delivered  their  sculs  from 
death,  their  eyes  from  tears,  their  feet  from  falling." 
What  must  be  the  inexpressible  satisfaction  of  every 
believer  in  Christ  Jesus,  in  the  confidence  of  being 
sprinkled  with  the  blood  of  atonement,  of  "  being  at 
peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,''  of 
being  "  passed  from  deatJi  unto  life  ?  What  a  happy 
community  is  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  !  Wherever 
scattered  on  the  face  of  the  whole  earth  ;  they  arc  ne- 
vertheless gathered  together  in  their  glorious  Head  : 
separated  by  oceans  and  mountains,  but  united  in  in- 
terest and  affection:  hated,  despised,  persecuted  of  the 
world  ;  yet  cherished,  esteemed,  protected  of  the  AI- 
mighcy  I 

The  sacrifiees  of  the  Mosaic  dispensation  were 
manij^  because  they  were  imperfect.  The  sacrifice 
of  the  gospel  is  one,  because  once  offered  it  '•  forever 
perfects  them  that  are  sanctified  by  it."  The  ancient 
institution  prescribed  a  whole  Iamb  for  every  several 
family  ;  the  gospel  exhibits  a  whole  and  complete  Sa- 
viour for  every  bcveral  elect  sinner  :  and  that  Saviour 
at  once  a  teacher,  an  atoncnient,  a  ruler  ;  "  Wisdom, 
righteousness,  sanctification  and  redemption." 

The  application  of  the  blood  of  tlie  destined  victim 
in  this  institution  is  a  most  remarkable  circumstance. 
*'  They  shall  take  of  the  blood  and  strike  it  on  the  two 
side  posts,  and  on  the  upper  door-post  of  the  houses 
v;  here  in  they  shall  eat  it."  It  must  nci:  be  spilt  upon 
tliC  ground  as  a  worthless  thing,  nor  sprinkled  in  the 
entering  of  the. door,  to  be  trampled  upon  as  an  un- 
holy thuig ;  bid  ?.bove  and  on  either  side  ;  to  be  a  cov- 
crin!^  to  th.e  head  and  a  bulwark  arourad.  "  When  I 
see  the  blood  I  vvij]  pass  over  you."  Could  tlie  all- 
discerning  eve  of  God  stand  in  need  of  such  a  token, 
in  order  to  judge  between  an  Israelite  and  an  Lgyp- 
tiau '?  No.  ikit  the  distinctions  of  God's  love  avail 
r.ot  ihem  who  wiiiully  and   wickedly  neglect  the  dis- 


LKCT.  Vnr.  illSTOllY   Oi"    MOSLS.  105 

t'mctions  of  faith  and  olicdiencc.  The  blood  in  the 
Ixison  is  the  same  m  ith  the  blood  on  the  door  post; 
but  it  is  no  protection  till  it  be  believingiy  npplicd. 
The  viitue  is  dormant  till  spiinkliii^j^  call  it  Ibrth. 
Surely,  this  part  of  the  ceremony  speaks  to  the  chris- 
tian world  for  itself.  Why  is  mention  still  made  of 
blood,  blood  ?  "  the  shedding  of  blond,"  *'  the  sprink- 
ling of  blood,"  "redemption  through  blood,"  and 
the  like  ?  It  denotes  the  life,  which  consists  in  the 
blood  of  the  animal ;  and  it  instructs  us  in  this  mo- 
mentous doctrine,  that  life  being  forfeited  by  sin,  the 
h'lood  must  l:)c  shed,  that  is,  the  life  must  be  yielded 
up,  before  atonement  to  justice  can  be  made  :  that 
the  substitution  and  acceptance  of  one  life  in  tlie  vcof.i: 
of  another,  must  depend  upon  the  will  and  appoint- 
ment of  the  oficnded  law  stiver  :  that  the  blood  of  slain 
beasts,  having  no  value  nor  virtue  of  its  own  to  take 
away  sin,  must  derive  all  its  efficacy  from  the  appoint- 
ment of  Heaven,  and  from  its  rehition  to  a  victim  of  a 
higher  order  :  and  that  the  blood  or  life  of  this  one 
victim,  yielded  up  to  divine  justice,  is  llnough  its  ia- 
trinsic  worth  and  the  decree  of  Gcd,  of  virtue  suffi- 
cient to  take  away  the  sins  of  the  whole  uorld. 

But  as,  in  the  original  institution,  the  blood  of  the 
Iamb  slain  was  no  protection  to  the  house,  till  it  v/as 
sprinkled  with  a  bunch  of  hj  ssop  on  the  parts  of  the 
building,  and  the  manner  directed,  so  the  sovereign 
balm  appointed  of  the  Most  High  for  the  cure  of  the 
deadly  plague  of  sin,  the  price  of  pardon  to  the  guiitv, 
the  life  of  the  dead,  becomes  effectuul  to  the  relief  "of 
the  guilty,  perishing  sinner,  by  a  particular  apj>lieation 
of  it  to  his  own  "  wounds,  bruises,  inurifying  sores." 
Faith,  eying  the  commandment,  tl;..-  power  of  God 
and  the  grace  of  Christ,  is  like  the  bunch  of  hyssop 
in  the  hand  of  the  paschal  worshipper,  sprinkling  the 
blood  of  atonement  upon  "  the  ujiper  door-post,  and 
the  two  side-posts,"  the  undei'standing,  the  heiu't,  the 
life,  the  ruling  and   the   governed   powers  of  cur   na- 

YOL.    II.  O 


106      ^  HISTORY   OF    MOSES.  LECT.   VIII. 

ture,  that  the   whole  may   be   accepted  through  the 
Beloved. 

I  concUide  this  part  of  my  subject  with  quoting  a 
passage  from  the  Targum  of  Jonathan,  respecting  the 
sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  the  paschal  iamb,  as  it  was 
performed  by  the  children  of  Israel  in  Egypt,  which 
has  struck  myself  as  uncommonly  beautiful  and  sub- 
lime. 

"  When  the  glory  of  the  Lord  was  revealed  in 
Egypt  in  the  night  of  the  passovcr,  and  vvhen  he  slew 
ail  the  first-born  of  the  Egyptians,  he  rode  upon  light- 
ning. He  surveyed  the  inmost  recesses  of  our  habi- 
tations ;  he  stopped  behind  the  wails  of  our  houses  ; 
his  eyes  observed  the  posts  of  our  doors  :  they  pierc- 
ed through  the  casements.  He  perceived  the  blood 
of  circumcision,  and  the  blood  of  the  paschal  lamb, 
sprinkled  upon  us.  He  viewed  his  people  from  the 
heights  of  heaven,  and  saw  them  eating  the  passover 
roasted  Vv'ith  fire  :  he  saw,  and  had  compassion  upon 
us  ;  he  spared,  and  suffered  not  the  destroying  angel 
to  hurt  us." 

The  inferior  circumstances  respecting  the  sacrifice 
are  these.  I'he  flesh  of  the  victim  was  to  be  eaten  in 
the  night  seasosi,  not  in  a  crude  state,  nor  boiled  in 
water,  but  roasted  with  fire  ;  no  bone  of  it  was  to  be 
broken ;  no  remnant  of  it  left  until  the  morning ;  or 
else  the  remains  were  to  be  consumed  by  fire.  I  am 
unwilling  entirely  to  pass  over  these  circumstances  as 
if  they  were  of  no  especial  meaning  or  importance  ; 
for  I  am  thoroughly  convinced  Qvcry  iota  and  title  re- 
lating to  this  ordinance,  has  a  specific  meaning  and 
desit^n.  But  I  frankly  acknowled^'-e  I  cannot  discern 
that  design  in  every  particular  ;  and  am  far  from  be- 
ing satisfied  with  the  fanciful  luid  unsupported  illus- 
trations of  some  commentators  upon  the  passage. 
Should  I  myself  seem  to  any  to  have  given  too  maoh 
into  imagination  and  conjecture  in  my  ideas  of  it,  or 
in  what  is  farther  to  be  offered  ;  the  nature  of  the  sub- 


LECT.  Vlir.  HISTORY   OF   MOSlS.  107 

ject,  the  silence  of  scripture,  the  consciousness  of 
honestly  aiininpj  at  your  rational  cnterrr^inmcnt  and  re- 
ligious instruction,  and  the  humble  hope  that  these 
conjectures  are  and  slvall  be  conformed  to  the  analogy 
<H  iaitli,  and  if  erroneous,  innocently  so;  these  will, 
I  :.fn  persuaded,  secure  me  a  patient  hearing,  and  a 
candid  intcn^retatioTi. 

The  time  of  the  feast  was  the  night  season  ;   tl;c 
Aery  juncture  when  the  awful  scene  was  acting,  which 
maiTcd  the  glory  and  blasted  the  strength  of  Egypt. 
Inconsiderate  man  must  have  his  attention  roused  and 
fixed  by  strong  and  striking  circumstances.     The  mo- 
ment of  execution,  the  hour  of  battle,   and  the  like, 
are  awfully  interesting  to  a  serious,  humane  and  pub- 
lic-spirited person.      Every  son  of  Israel  kneu-,  that  at 
the  very  moment  he  was  eating  his  unleavened  cake 
with  gladness,   and  the  flesh  of  lambs  with  a  merry 
heart,  "  Thousands  were  falling  at  his  side,   and  ten 
thousand  at  his  right  hand."     What  an  alarming  de- 
monstration of  divine  justice!   What  an  encouraging 
display  of  goodness  and  mercj- !  Were  the  eye  opened 
to  see  God  as  he  is,  were  the  powers  of  an  invisible 
world  habitually  felt,    every  creature,    every  season, 
every  event,  would  possess  a  quickening,  an  active,  a 
constraining  influence  over  us.     But  blind,    stupid, 
sluggish  as  we  arc,  the  midnight  bell  must    toll  to 
rouse  us  to  reflection:   death  must  assume  the  com- 
plexion of  sable  night,    and  add  artificial  to  natural 
horror,  in  order  to  force  a  way  into  our  stony  hearts. 
And  God,  who  knows  what  is  in  man,  vouchsafes  to 
instruct    his    thoughtlessness   and   folly,     by    acting 
through  the   medium  of  powerful  and  awakening  cir- 
cumstances upon  our  imagination  and  senses.     Hence 
possibly  the  injunction  to  eat  tiie  passover  by  night. 

It  was  to  be  "  roasted  u'ith  fire,"  not  eaten  raw, 
nor  sodden  with  water.  To  eat  flesh  in  a  crude  stiuc 
is  unnatural  and  unwholesome.  And  we  never  find 
the   religious    institutions   of    the    living     and    true 


lOS  nisTony  or  moses.  lect.  viii. 

<jod  doing  violence  to  innocent  natural  propensities 
and  aversions,  or  encroaching  on  the  health  and  life 
of  his  worshippers:  for  he  saith,  *'  I  will  have  mercy 
iind  not  sacrifice."  "  Why  the  one  method  of  pre- 
paring it  was  commanded  of  God  in  preference  to  the 
other,  we  pretend  not  to  satisfy ingly  to  account  for. 
Was  it  to  secure  an  uniformity  of  practice  in  the  minut- 
est circumstances  relating  to  his  worship  ?  Was  it  to 
form  his  church  and  people  to  implicit  obedience  to 
his  will,  in  points  which  they  comprehe'id  not,  as  in 
those  which  they  ^vell  understand  ;  in  all  cases  what- 
ever, v/hetlfcr  he  Ije  pleased  to  render  to  or  withhold 
a  reason  ?  Was  it  intended  as  a  symbolical  representa- 
tion of  liieir  late  condition ;  tried,  and  prepared,  and 
refmtrd  in  the  fire  of  Egyptian  oppression  ;  purged, 
but  not  consumed  by  it?  Was  it  a  figurative  view  of 
the  judgment  of  God  then  executing  :  Egypt  scorch- 
t-d  with  the  flame  ;  Israel  enlightened,  seasoned,  pu- 
rified b}'  it  ?  Did  it  look  forward  unto,  and  signify 
some  particular  circumstance  in  the  person,-  the  doc* 
tj'ine,  or  sufferings  of  the  great  evangelical  sacrifice? 
O  Eord,  thou  knowest.  "  Secret  things  belong  to 
tliee,  but  things  which  are  revealed  belong  unto  uSj,' 
and  to  our  children."  We  thank  thee  for  what  thou 
hast  condeKcendcd  to  reveal  to  us,  and  would  not  pre- 
sume to  "  be  wise  above  what  is  written." 

"  Not  a  bone"  of  the  paschal  Iamb  n'as  to  "  be 
broken."  This,  as  well  as  some  of  the  foregoing  cir- 
cimistaiices,  is  by  sundry  commentators  supposed  to 
be  intended  as  a  contradiction  to  various  Pagan  su- 
jierstitions,  and  particularly  to  the  frantic  behaviour  ot* 
the  votaries  of  Bacchus  ;  who,  in  the  fumes  of  intoxi- 
calion  or  of  religious  frenzy,  committed  a  thousand 
abominations  and  extiavagancies  ;  they  fell  into  vio- 
lep.t  agitations,  th.e  pretcrided  inspiration  of  their  God; 
ihey  devoured  the  yet  palpitating  fiesh  of  tiie  victims 
v.Tirch.  tiiey  Irad  just  killed,  n.-id  broke  all  iht'u  L>ones 
to  pieces.     But  Uie  idolatrous  rites  of  the  r.cathcn  na- 


LECT.  Till.  HISTORY    OF   MOSES.  l•Oi^ 

lions  were  so  various  and  so  contradictory  one  to  ano- 
ther, tliat  we  can  hardly  imagine  the  great  Jeiio\  ,mt 
would  eoiidciccnd  to  express  any  concern,  wlu iIkt 
ihe  rites  cf  his  worship,  vcre,  in  every  instance,  either 
-confonncd  or  opposed  to  the  usages  of  idolatry.  A 
\cry  fiinn.ons  critic*  assigns  a  very  silly  reason  ibr  this- 
blanch  of  ihc  commandment.  He  alleges  it  was  ano- 
ther indication  of  the  extreme  haste  with  m  hich  the 
passcvcr  was  to  be  eaten.  "  Men  in  a  hurry,"  says 
he,  "  do  not  stand  to  pick  bones  ;  much  less  do  they 
take  leisure  to  break  them,  for  the  sake  of  the  juice 
or  marrow."  As  if  it  required  more  time  to  sever 
the  joints,  and  break  the  bones  by  violence,  than  to 
dissect  and  disunite  the  parts  without  a  fracture.  Tlie 
simple  meaning  of  the  precept  seems  to  be,  that  what 
cnce  ofiercd  to  God  should  not  be  unnecessarily  dis- 
figuered  and  mangled.  The  blood  must  be  shed,  for 
that  was  the  seal  of  God's  covenant ;  the  flesh  might 
be  eaten,  for  it  was  given  for  the  sustenance  of  man'.s 
life,  but  ihe  bones,  forming  no  part  either  of  focd  cr 
sacrifice,  were  to  be  left  in  the  state  in  w  hich  they 
were  found,  till  consumed  by  fire  with  the  remainder 
of  the  flesh,  if  any  remained,  the  next  morning.  And 
is.  it  not  extremely  probable,  that  God  might  intend, 
by  certain  arbitrary  tokens,  to  describe  the  Messiab?j! 
and  that  the  prohibition  to  break  the  bones  of  the  pas- 
chal lamb  was  designed  to  be  a  type  of  a  remarkable 
ci'cumstance  attending  the  crucifixion  of  our  Savioury 
A\]ii(:h  Providence  watched  over  with  special  attention, 
and  brought  about  by  a  miracle?  '^'  But  when  the  soi- 
dicVs  came  to  Jesus,  and  saw  that  he  was  dead  already, 
they  break  not  his  legs,"  John  xix.  33.  And  it  is 
clear  from  what  follows,  that  the  evangelist  consider- 
ed the  precept  of  the  law  as  a  prophecy  of  Chiisl; 
'*  For  tr.er-e  things  were  done,"  says  he,  "  ih.at  liic 
scripliire  should  be  fulfilled,  A  bone  of  him  shall  not 

*  Bochart,  Tlieroz,  par.  i.  lib.  ii.  cap.  I.  so].  (309. 


no  niSTORY   OF   MOSES.  LECT.    Vllf. 

be  broken,"  Verse  36.  In  many  cases  it  happens, 
that  the  prediction  was  either  not  attended  to,  or  had 
not  been  understood,  till  the  event  has  explained  it. 

Nothins:  of  it  was  to  be  "  left  until  the  mornins:." 
This  circumstance  was  not  peculiar  to  the  sacrifice  of 
the  paschal  lamb,  but  common  to  almost  every  other 
kind  of  oblation.  This  v/ill  appear  if  we  consult  the  ge- 
nera] laws  respecting  sacrifice.  Thus  the  prescription 
runs :  *'  and  the  flesh  of  tlie  srcrifice  of  his  peace  offer- 
irsgs  for  thar.k'i^iving  shall  be  eaten  thA  same  day  that 
it  is  ofrci-ed  ;  Ive  »hali  not  leave  any  of  it  uiitil  the  mor- 
ning-," Ij^r.  vi'i.  15.  "  And  again,  "  When  a  bullock, 
or  a  sheep,  or  a  j^oat 'is  brought  forth,  then  it  shall  be 
seven  days  under  the  dam,  and  from  the  eighth  day 
^nd  henceforth  it  shall  be  accepted  for  an  offering 
made  by  fire  unto  the  Lord.  And  whether  it  be  cow 
or  evv'e,  ye  shall  not  kill  it  and  her  young  both  in  one 
day.  Aiidwhenye  will  offer  a  sacrifrccof  thanksgiving 
unto  the  Lor  d,  offer  it  at  your  own  will.  On  the  same 
day  it  shell  be  eaten  up;  3'^c  shall  leave  nane  of  it  until 
the  morrow  :  I  am  the  Lord,"  xxii.  27.. .30.  The 
solemn  affix,  **  I  am  the  Lord,"  seems  to  insinuate, 
that  the  reason  of  the  commandment  was  to  be  sought 
in  the  majesty  and  authority  of  the  law-giver.  And, 
independent  of  authority,  decency  seems  to  require,  that 
what  has  once  been  devoted  to  a  hallowed  use  should 
never  afterwards  appear  in  a  mangled,  impure  or  pu- 
trid state.  Perhaps  surperstition  was,  by  this  precept, 
obliquely  or  intentionally  reproved  and  repressed  ;  su- 
perstition, Vvhich  loves  to  feed  upon  scraps,  and  to 
hoard  up  relics,  as  if  they  were  sacred  things  ;  super- 
stition, which  gives  to  the  fragments  of  the  sacrifice  the 
veneration  due  only  to  the  sacrifice  itself,  and  to  the 
great  Author  of  it. 

We  must  notice  the  remaining  particulars  of  this 
service  in  the  manner  in  which  it  v.^as  originally  per- 
formed, "  in  haste,"  **  standing,"  "  with  loins  girded," 
^*  with  staff  in  liand,"   ready  to  depart.     The  lamb 


LECT.   VIII.  MrSTORY    OF    MOSIIS.  Ill 

uas  to  be  eaten  with  "  bitter  herbs.  ■•'  A  representa- 
tion, perliaps  of  the  nvixed  nature  ot"  every  subluiiilry 
enjoyment ;  and  of  the  nholsecmc  lu'cs  of  nnprJatable 
adversity.  The  "  star.ding"  posture,  and  the  imple- 
ments of  travelling,  spcuk  a  plain  ana  distinct  language. 
"  Arib-e  ye  and  depart,  for  this  is  not  your  i est."  "Here 
we  have  no  abiding  eity,  but  look  for  one  to  come." 
"  Now  we  desire  a  better  country,  that  is  an  heaven- 
ly." "  Arise  let  us  go  hence."  A  provision  was  gra- 
ciously made  for  such  as  might  be  ceremonially  unclean 
at  the  future  seasons  of  celebration,  and  ihe  door  of 
mercy  and  communion  v.as  opened  to  stianj^ers.  Bles- 
sed prefigu ration  of  the  remedy  provided  for  the  chief 
of  sinners  ;  of  the  refuge  opened  for  the  reception  of 
*'  aliens  from  the  common  wealth  of  Israel;"  of  the 
liberal,  condecending,  comprehensive  spirit  of  the 
gospel !  Christians,  ye  "  are  no  more  strangers  and  for- 
eigners, but  ftllow  citizens  with  the  saints,  and  of  the 
household  of  God."  "  Those  who  were  af:r  off,  are 
made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ." 

Men  and  brethren,  the  time  is  at  hand,  when  a  more 
fearful  midnight  cry  shall  be  heard  than  even  that 
which  smitten, "  grc;;ning  Egypt  raised  in  the  hour  of 
vengeance.  "  The  day  of  the  Lord  shall  come  as  a 
thief  in  the  night.''  "  Behold  he  cometh  w  ith  clouds, 
and  ev  ery  eye  shall  see  him,  and  they  ^Iso  w  liic.h  pier, 
ced  him  ;  and  all  kindreds  of  the  earth  sh;iU  wail  be- 
cause of  him."  Behold,  a  careless,  slumbering  worlds 
a  world  lying  in  wickedness,  is  threatened  with  a  death 
infmitely  more  dreadful  than  'hut  v.hich  destroyed  the 
first-born,  with  "  the  second  death,"  a  1  iving  death  of 
everlasting  banishment  *'  hem  the  presence  of  the 
Lord,  and  from  the  glory^ f  his  power."  From  that 
last  plague  there  is  noseciiiity  but  one  ;  that  security, 
of  which  the  "  blood  of  sprinkling"  under  the  law 
was  but  a  type.  "  Run  to  your  strong  hold,  ye  pris, 
oners  of  hope."  "  Flee,  fiee  for  refuse  :  lay  hold  of 
the  hope  that  is  set  before    ycu.''     "Beheld  now  is 


112  MIST03>Y   OI-    MOSES.  LECT     VUI. 

the  accepted  time  ;  bcliold  now  is  the  day  of  salva- 
tion." "  If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  bcagainst  us  ?" 
"  He  that  sparcth  not  his  own  Son,  but  delivered 
iiini  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  with  him  also  freely 
i>ivc  us  ail  thing-s?  Who  shall  lay  anything  to  the 
charge  of  God's  elect?  It  is  God  that  justifieth  ;  who 
is  he  that  condemhelh  *?  It  is  Christ  that  died,  yea 
rather  that  is  risen  again,  ^vho  is  even  at  the  right  hand 
of  God,  \\ho  also  maketh  intercession  for  us,''  Rom. 
viii,  32,  33,  34. 

no\\  many  things  in  the  scriptures  '  in  Moses,  in 
tlie  prophets,  in  the  law,  in  the  gospel,  are  dark  and 
hard  to  be  understood  ?  But  the  hour  cometh  when 
tiie  veil  shall  be  remo\ed  from  our  eyes  ;  when  the 
truiii  a-j  it  is  in  Jesus  shall  stand  confessed  without  a 
mystery  ;  and  shall  be  seen  and  read  of  all  men- 
*'  What"  he  doth,  '*  ye  know  not  now,  but  ye  shall 
know  hereafter."  "  We  know  in  part,  and  we  pro- 
jihecy  in  part.  But  when  that  whicii  is  perfect  is 
come,  then  that  which  is  in  part  shall  be  done  away." 
*'for  now  v>e  see  through  a  glass,  darkly:  but  then 
facetoficc:  now  I  know  in  part;  but  tlien  shall  I 
know,  even  as  also  I  am  known,"    1  Cor.  xiii.  12. 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  IX. 

And  it  came  to  puss  ivJicn  Pharaoh  had  let  the  people  go^ 
that  Cod  led  ihcm  net  through  the  icay  of  the  land  of 
the  Philistines^  allhuiigh  that  was  mar  ;Jor  God  said. 
Lest  peradvaiture  the  people  repent  when  they  see  zvar, 
and  they  return  to  Egypt.  But  God  led  the  people 
about,  llirough  tlie  zcai;  ofthewilderness  of  the  Red  Sea. 
And  the  children  of  Israel  zvent  up  haruassedout  of 
the  land  of  Egypt.  And  Moses  took  the  hones  of  Jo- 
seph li  ilk  him  ;  for  lie  had  straitli/  szvorn  the  cJiitdren 
of  Israel,  saying,  God  will  surely  visit  you  ;  and  ye 
shall  carry  up  my  bones  away  hence  xvith  you.... 
And  they  took  their  journey  from  Succoth,  and  en- 
camped in  Etham-i  in  the  edge  of  the  wilderness.  And 
the  Lord  zvent  before  them,  by  day  in  a  pillar  of  a 
clcud,  to  lead  them  tlic  loay  ;  and  by  niglit  in  a  pillar 
of , fire,  to  give  tliem  light  ;  to  go  by  day  and  night. 
He  took  not  aicay  the  pillar  of  the  cloud  by  day,  nor 
the  pillar  of  fire  ly  night,  from  before  tJte  people. 
Ex'jDUs.  xiii.    17. ..!^-- 

ALL  ti)ai  weak,  ignorant,  erring  man  can  know,  is 
a  tew  of  the  smaller  objects  whicii  are  immedi- 
uf^'lv  around  him  ;  and  of  these  but  a  few  of  the  more 
obvious  qualities  which  tluT  i)0.ssess,  and  the  relations 
in  which  they  stand  to  one  another.  Remove  them 
])iit  a  little  as  to  space  or  time,  and  they  gradualK'  dis- 
appenr,  till  they  are  at  length  involved  in  total  darkness. 
The  distance  of  a  fev/  leagues  terminates  our  vision  ; 
the  lapse  of  a  f'w  years  erases  all  traces  from  our  me- 
mory. The  cloud  of  night  conceals  or  changes  the  ap- 
vor..  II,  p 


114  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LEG T.  iX. 

pearance  of  things  the  nearest  to  us,  and  the  most 
perieciiy  known.  Here,  we  are  dazzled  and  con- 
founded {)y  an  excess  of  light  j  there,  we  are  cheeked 
and  repiiised  by  dimness  and  obscurity.  The  sun  for- 
bids us  to  betiold  ins  iace  by  reason  of  his  splendor  ; 
tlie  earth  and  tlie  ocean  present  to  us  but  their  sur- 
/irice  ;  aiul  the  heavens  oppose  to  tlie  eager  eye  a  vault 
of  crysta!,  saying,  "  i-Iiiherto  shalt  tliou  come,  but  no 
fiiilher."  Vv'e  U^fl  ourselves  hedged  in,  fettered,  con- 
iined  on  every  side.  And  our  coiidition  in  tliis  respect 
is  thai  of  evtry  created,  limired  being.  Open  pros- 
pect after  prospect ;  expand  system  upon  system  ;  add 
faculty  to  faeully  :  yet  the  prospect  is  jjounded  at 
ienQ?li.  Suns  and  worlds  aie  capable  of  being-  num- 
Lercd,  and  there  is  a  height  and  depth  stifl  beyond, 
which  the  understanding  of  an  angel  cannot  iatiiom. 

There  is  oidy  one  J3eing  whose  duration  is  immeasu- 
rable...whose  space  is  uriConfmed... whose  po\'ier  is  un- 
controlled...whose  iuiderstanding  is  infinite.  With  Je- 
hovah "  a  iliousand  years  are  as  one  day,  and  one  day 
as  a  thousand  years."  lie  alone  can  "  declare  the 
end  fiuin  the  beginning,  and  iVom  ancient  times  the 
things  That  are  not  yei  done,  saying,  "  'Sly  counsel 
thai!  s'and,  aju.l  i  will  do  all  my  pleasure,"  Isa.  xivi. 
10.  lit  is"  above  a!l^  and  through  all,  and  in  all!" 
An  im,>ei\etrai(le  veil  iiides  futurity  i'rom  every  created 
eye  ;  but  the  spirit  of  prophecy  is  pleased  sometimes 
lo  remove  it.  Abraham  saw  the  Redeemer's  day  afar 
(AY,  and  rejoiced.  He  saw  in  pru[)hetic  vision  tl^e  ser- 
?!Uid(%  theailliction,  and  tije  deliverance  of  his  poste- 
rity, at  the  i'listance  of  lour  hiindred  years.  To  mor- 
ial  man,  whose  longest  span  of  existence  is  dinjinished 
to  much  under  a  centurj',  lour  hundred  years  have 
something  like  the  appearance  of  an  eternity  ;  but  be- 
f'jie  God,  time  and  space  are  contracted  to  a  point,  to 
•a  moment.  Vv'ith  him,  that  which  is  to  be  done  is  al- 
ready done.  IMen  shape  events  according  to  tlieir 
lancy,  their  fears,  their  wishes  or  their  hopes.     13ut 


LECr.    IX.  HISTORY  OF  MCSES.  11.5 

*'  tlu:  counselor  tlie  Lord  it  sluill  stand,  niid  he  I'ulfil- 
lelhall  hisijleasuro." 

What    was    the   zcord  of  the   Lord    lo  Abralirnn  ? 
"  And   he  said  unto  .Vbram,  Ki!u•.^•  of  a  surety,  ihat 
thy  seed  shall  be  a  strnngcr  in  a  hind  t!  at  is  not  tiieirs, 
and  shall  serve  them,  and  they  .shall  aflliet  Ibem   luiir 
hcndrcd  years.     And  also  that  nation  whom  tluy  shall 
serve  will  I  judge  :  and  afterward  shall  they  come  out 
with  great  substance,"  Gen.  xv.    15',   J 4.     What  was 
the  doing  of  the  Lord  in  conformity  to  that  word  ^ 
*'  And    it  came  to  pass,   that  at  midnight   the  Lord 
smote  all  the  iirst-born  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  from  tlie 
iirst-born  of  Pharaoh  that  sat  on  his  throne,   unto  the 
first-born  of  the  captive  that  was  in  the  dvmgeon,  aud  all 
the  hrst-born  of  cattle."     "  And  ihe  childien  of  Israel 
did  according  to  the  word  of  Aioses:  and  they  borrowed 
of  the  Egyptians  jewels  cf  silver  and  jewels  of  goid, 
and  raiment.     And  the  Lord  gave  the  people  favor  in 
the  sight  of  the  Egyptians,  so  that  they  lent  unto  them 
such   things  as  they   required:  and    they   spoiled    the 
Egyptians."     Israel  came  into  Egypt  lew  in  number, 
weak  and  indigent ;  but   they  go  out  from  the  land 
of   tljcir    oppression   grcaily   increased,    mighty    and 
formidable  ;  laden  witli  the  spoils  of  their  cruel  oppres- 
sors, the  well-earned  reward  of  the  labors  of  many 

vears,  and  ol  much  soi'row. 

*'    »  .  .    . 

it  is  repeatedly  remarked,  that  the  prediction  relat- 
ing to  the  deliverance  of  God's  people  was  fufilled  to 
a  single  day.  Of  this  we  have  a  confirmation  in  the 
j)receding  chapter,  and  the  41st  verse  ;  "  And  it  came 
to  pass,  at  ihe  end  of  the  four  hundred  and  thirty 
years,  even  the  self-same  day,  it  come  to  pass,  that  all 
the  hosts  of  the  Lord  went  out  of  the  land  of  Egvpt." 
Again,  at  the  51st  verse  j  '*  And  it  canie  to  pass,  the 
self-same  daij,  that  i\\e  Lord  did  bring  the  children  of 
Isrftel  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt  by  their  armies."  And 
yet  on  comparing  numbers  in  the  prediction  awX  the 
history  of  its  accomplishment,  we  find  a  dilTerence  of 


116  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  IX. 

thirty  years."  The  seventy  interpreters  were  aware  of 
this  difficulty,  and  have  obviated  it  by  thus  paraphras- 
ing the  passage  in  Exodus,  "  The  sojouru.nf;-  of  Ihe 
children  of  Israel  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  in  the 
land  of  Egypt,  was  four  hundred  fend  thirty  years.'* 
To  justify  which  computation  we  need  but  to  observe, 
that  Moses  in  the  foiu' hundred  and  (hniy  years,  in- 
cludes ail  the  time  !hat  Abraham  had  passed  in  Ca- 
naan, previous  to  the  birth  of  li-aac.  And  a  learned 
prelate  of  our  own  country,  a;cLd)ishop  Usher,  in  his 
valuable  chronology,  has  proved  this  calculation  to 
be  just.  For  Abraham  was  exctcily  twenty-Gve  years 
in  Canaan  before  Isaac  was  born.  *  From  the  birth  of 
Isaac  to  the  exodus  from  Egypt  was  (bur  hundred  ivad 
five,  which  completes  the  lour  huiidred  an(i  thiitieth 
year  mentioned  in  this  passage,  and  by  Paul  in  the 
third  of  the  Galatians,  T/th  verse.  Thus  perfiect  are 
all  the  ways  and  works  of  God  ;  thus  absr.lute  his  pow- 
er over  all  persons  and  all  events  !  No  skill,  no  ardor, 
no  violent  efforts  on  the  part  of  Israel,  could  accele- 
rate their  enlargement.  Nor  could  the  combined 
strength  of  Egypt,  of  mankind,  of  created  nature,  re- 
tard it  one  single  hour  ! 

In  order  to  preserve  to  all  generations  the  memory 
of  a  period  so  singular  and  so  important  in  their  histo- 
ry, the  ordinance  of  the  pa.ssover  was  to  be  honored 
with  an  annual  celebration;  and,  as  positive  and  arbi- 

*  Jacob  was  born  to  Isaac  when  he  was  sixty  years  old  ;  and  at 
the  time  he  went  down  to  Egypt,  according  to  his  own  decla- 
ration to  Pharaoh,  he  was  one  hundred  and  thirty  ;  which  ad- 
ded to  the  twtnfy-five  years  of  Abraham's  pilgrimage,  from  his 
lea\  it.g  Ur  t;f  the  Chaldees  to  the  birth  of  Isaac,  make  two  hun- 
dred and  fifteen.  ..He  and  his  posterity  continued  in  Egypt 
a  lii;e  period  of  two  hur~dred  and  fifteen  years.  So  that  il  is  plain 
Moses  reckoned  in  the  whole  sum  of  four  l.undrtd  and  thirty 
years,  all  the  pii;:>;;iniages  of  Abraham,  and  his  posterity,  from 
his  first  leaving  his  kindred  and  father's  house  in  Mesopota- 
mia down  to  their  tiiimiphant  exit  from  Eg>pt,  and  their  setting- 
out  on  the  conquest  of  Canaan,  v.liose  iniquit)  iheugli  not  before 
was  now  full. 


LECT.  RC.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  I  17 

trary  institutions  derive  all  their  value  and  use  froin  a 
nglit'undLMstanding  of  tlieii'  meaning,  and  the  design 
of  their  author,  express  words  are  j)ut  into  tlic  mouths 
of  parents  and  heads  of  families  for  tlie  instruetion  of 
generations  to  come,  in  the  nature  and  reason  of  tiiis 
solemn  service.  *'  And  thou  shalt  sht-w  iUy  son  in 
tliat  day,  saying.  This  is  doney  because  of  that  w  liieh  the 
Lord  did  unto  me,  when  1  came  forth  out  of  Egypt. 
And  it  shall  be  for  a  sign  unto  thee,  upon  thine  hand, 
and  for  a  mt  niorial  between  iliine  eyes,  tliat  the  Lord's 
law  may  be  in  thy  mouth  :  for  with  a  strong  hand  hath 
the  Lord  brought  thee  out  of  Egypt,  And  it  shall  be 
when  thy  sonasketh  thee,  in  time  to  come,  saying. 
What  is  this  ?  that  thou  shalt  say  uiilo  him.  )iy 
strength  of  hand  the  Lord  brought  us  out  from  Egypt, 
iiom  the  house  of  bondage.  And  it  came  to  pass, 
when  Pharaoh  would  hardly  let  us  go,  that  the  Lord 
slew  all  the  iirst-born  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  ho.'h  the 
first-born  of  man,  and  the  lust-bo; n  of  Ijeasts ;  there- 
fore 1  sacrifice  to  the  Lord  all  that  openeth  the  ma- 
trix, being  males;  but  all  the  tirst-born  of  my  chddren 
I  redeem."  Hence  it  appears  that,  besides  this  great 
annual  sacrifice,  a  law  was  enacted  at  this  time,  though 
it  was  nok  to  be  enforced  until  they  should  be  put  in 
possession  of  the  promised  land,  that  in  gratetul  re- 
membrance of  God's  passing  over  their  first-born  when 
he  destroyed  those  of  Egypt,  the  first-bom  of  the  hu- 
man species,  and  also  of  the  brute  creation,  through 
every  age,  should  be  dedicated  and  set  a{;art  as  a  sa- 
cred property.  The  great  Legislator  was  pleased  af- 
terwards, by  a  particular  injunction,  to  appropriate  to 
himself  one  whole  tribe  out  of  the  twelve,  in  room  of 
the  iirst-born  out  of  every  tribe,  to  minister  unto  him, 
in  holy  things;  and  in  this  ordinance  the  church  of 
God,  at  that  early  period,  both  exliibited  and  enjoyed 
an  emblematical  representation  ol"  the  evangelical 
priesthood  ;  not  vested  in  and  exclusively  belonging  to 
a  particular  description  of  men,  but  the  common  cha- 


lis  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  IX. 

racter  and  dignitv  of  all  christians  ;  a  "  generation  cho- 
sen of  Gor>,  in  Christ,  a  royal  priesthood,  an  holy  na- 
tion, a  peculiar  ]jeop!e...tliat  they  should  shew  forth 
the  praises  of  Him,  ulio  hath  called  them  out  of  dark- 
ness into  his  marvtllous  litrht."  And  thev  are  intro- 
duced  hefore  the  throne,  with  this  song  of  praise  in 
their  mouths,  "  Unto  Him  that  loved  us,  and  washed 
us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood,  and  hath  made  us 
kings  and  priests  uiito  God  and  his  Father ;  to  him  be 
glory  and  dominion  forever  and  ever.  Amen."  Rev. 
i.  5,  6. 

Is  it  not  worth  while  to  compare,  seeing  the  Spirit  of 
God  has  thought  it  meet  to  transmit  to  us  the  very  num- 
bers, the  entire  state  of  Israel,  as  it  were,  at  the  time 
of  its  descent  into  Egj^pt,  and  at  its  departure  thence? 
The  whole  number  which  accompanied  Jacob  from  Ca- 
naan, when  driven  thence  by  the  famine,  himself  in- 
cluded, was  sixty-six  ;  which,  added  to  the  family  of 
Joseph  already  in  Egypt,  consisting  of  himselfj  Ase- 
nath  the  daughter  of  the  priest  of  On,  adopted  by 
marriage  into  the  family  of  Abraham,  and  their  two 
sons,  the  amount  is  seventy,  when  they  leit  that  coun- 
try. In  a  period  of  little  more  than  two  hundred 
\ears,  they  are  increased  to  the  amazing  sum  of  six 
hundred  thousand  men,  of  military  age,  without  reck- 
oning females,  children  of  l)oth  sexes  under  twenty, 
and  olfi  men  of  sixty  and  upward  :  for  that  was  the 
age  of  superannuation  among  this  people.  Taking 
therefore  ti)e  calculation  so  low  as  four  of  all  the  other 
deser'.piions  lor  one  of  the  military  age,  that  is,  males 
from  tweniy  to  sixty,  the  whole  number  of  the  des- 
cendants ul  Abraham  that  left  Egypt  must  have  been 
at  least  three  miiiions.  So  that,  dividing  the  \a  hole 
time  of  iheir  sojourning  there  into  periods  of  twenty 
\eui>,  it  apj>ears  that  their  number  was  multiplied  ru.^ar- 
jy  three  times  every  tvveniy  years.  Now  if  we  consi- 
der, that  the  most  ra[)id  state  oi'popsilation  in  the  ordi- 
narv  cour.se  of  nature,  and  in  circunistaiices  th;e  most- 


LECi.  IX.  HIS'IORV  OF  xMOSES.  119 

fjvor.iljie  to  il,  is  ii  doubling  the  iiiiiiibcr  of  iiihal)i- 
taiil.'!)  iv,.Ty  twciily  yciirs  ;  uiid  that  only  in  the  eaiher 
ai;es  of  a  j)eO[)le  or  cuJoiiy  ;  what  must  wu  think  of 
this  awiazin-;-  increase  in  ciiciimstancc  s  the  most  imfa- 
\oiable  :  in  a  peojjle  ct-opetl  up  in  a  narrow  district, 
an.!  that  dislncL  not  their  own,  but  the  p'opcity  of  a 
nation  inucli  mure  povverlul  than  themselves  j  a  jjeo- 
])le  among  wi)<.)m  marriage  was  grievously  discourao-ed 
by  the  w^ant  of  hberly,  by  hard  and  oppressive  labor, 
by  su!)jection  to  the  despol.ism  of  a  foreign  prince,  by 
penal  edicts  wliich  doomed  ail  their  male  children  to 
death,  and  by  wiiich,  doublles?,  multitudes  perished, 
together  vviih  their  natarai  increaie  ?  The  multiplica- 
tion of  Israel  in  a  proportion  so  great,  in  a  progress  so 
rapid,  in  a  situation  so  unfriendly,  will  be  in  reality 
fouiid  a  miracle,  though  less  striking  to  a  sujjeriicial 
observation,  being  gradually  and  imperceptibly  per- 
formed, upon  closer  attenliun,  a  prodigv  equal  or  su- 
p-'rior  to  any  tliat  were  wrougiit  in  ilnmediately  effect- 
ing their  enfranchisement.  And  this  leads  us  to  the 
giateful  acknowledgment  of  God's  wise  and  gracious 
providence,  in  its  ordinary  operalions  and  eliiects. 
Wiiat  is  daily  preservation  but  creation,,.one  omnifjc 
"  LKT  THERE  BE,"  daily,  every  instant  repeated  ?  AVhat 
is  the-progress  of  vegetation,  of  life  and  reason,  but  the 
continual  interposition  of  the  great  Source  of  all  being, 
Jiie  and  intelligence?  What  is  dissolution  and  death, 
but  thcsu[)porting,  vivifying  power  of  God  withdrawn 
from  the  body  which  is  just  now  inhabited  ? 

This  vast  iiost  was  accompanied  with  \vhat  Moses 
calls  a  mixed  multitude.  Tliis  is  supposed  to  have  been 
made  up  of  the  produce  of  marriages  between  Israe- 
lites and  Egyptians  ;  of  Egyptians,  who,  from  thi^  , 
miracles  which  they  had  seen  wrought  in  (avor  of  Israel, 
had  been  determined  to  follow  the  Ibrtunes  of  that 
people  ;  and  of  neighbors  who,  iu  the  ordinary  inter- 
course of  mankind,  might  be  brought   into   contact 


120  HISTORY  OF  MQIES.  LECT.    IX. 

with  them,,  cad  who  through  fear,  interest  or  curiosi- 
ty, migiit  be  induced  to  follow  their  cainp. 

Miiii,  with  h:s  upual  ignorance  and  haste,  would 
hat'e  been  for  conducing  this  mighty  army  directly  to 
Canaan.  And  no  doubt  the  sam?^  a'mighty  arm  which 
had  thus  asserted  them  into  liberty,  could  have  led 
them  i^traight  forward  to  conquest.  But  in  studying 
the  history  of  the  divine  conduct  as  ordering  and  go- 
verning the  aifairs  of  men,  we  lind  it  is  composed  part- 
ly of  the  interpositions  of  Heaven,  and  partly  of  the 
e'xerlions  of  men.  It  is  not  all  miracle  ;  that  were  to 
encourage  eJernal  indolence  and  stupidity  in  rational 
l)eings,  formed  after  the  image  of  God,  and  to  reduce 
men  to  mere  passive  clods  of  earth  ;  nor  is  it  all,  on 
the  other  hand,  the  effect  of  human  skill,  industry  and 
dihgence;  lor  that  were  to  resign  the  government  of 
the  world  to  the  frail  and  the  foolish  ;  that  were  to 
weaken  the  power  of  religion,  which  is  the  life,  the 
joy,  the  guide,  the  support  of  tlie  universe.  Bat  we 
discover  divine  interposition,  to  a  certain  degree,  so  as 
to  inspire  a  reasonable  confidence  in  and  dependence 
upon  God ;  and  we  discern  the  exertions  of  men 
crowned  with  success  through  the  blessing  of  Heaven 
upon  them,  and  this  enforcing  the  necessity  of  bring- 
ing out  and  exercising  the  powers  and  faculties  of  our 
inleliectual  nature.  Israel  is  delivered  from  Egypt  at 
once  ;  but  is  introduced  into  Canaan  by  degrees.  The 
tormer  an  act  of  sovereign  power,  unmixed  with,  in- 
dependent upon  human  efforts ;  the  latter,  the  less 
perceptible  operation  of  Omnipotence,  blending  itself 
witi],  subduing,  directing  and  proa:»oting  the  designs 
and  endeavors  of  reasonable  beings,  who  had  a  great 
ol^ject  in  view,  and  a  clear  rule  to  walk  by.  Tlius,  in 
a  case  of  universal  importance,  the  justitication  and 
anejption  of  the  sinner,  are  acts  of  free,  sovereign 
ijiace,  wherein"  sin  is  forgiven,  and  the  right  and  privi- 
leges of  sons  conferred  ;  whereas  sanctification  is  the 
gradual   uork  oi'  the  Spirii,  sup,;orting  us  by  the  way. 


LECT,  iX.  HISTORY  01-   MOSES.  lUl 

overcoming  our  enemies  hy  little  and  little,  and  mak- 
ing us  "  meet  to  be  partakers  ot"  the  inlieritanee  ok' 
the  saints  in  light." 

A  great  multitude  of  people  is  always  an  ohject  of 
serious  attention,  and  ofdeep  anxiety.  Many  mouths 
were  to  be  fed,  many  humors  to  be  studied,  many 
talents  to  be  employed.  Some  were  to  be  gained  by 
love,  uthers  to  be  governed  by  fear ;  the  impcetuosity 
of  one  was  to  be  represssed,  the  timidity  and  diffidence 
of  another  to  be  countenanced  and  encouraged ;  care 
was  CO  be  exercised  about  those  who  were  either  unable 
or  unwiJling  to  exercise  any  about  themselves.  What 
a  charge  then  was  that  of  Moses  and  Aaro^'. !  bearing 
on  thfir  shoulders  the  burden  of  such  an  assembly  ;  a 
vast  multitude  agitated  with  the  ordinary  passions  of 
human  nature  ;  unarmed,  unaccustomed  to  discipline, 
untractable;  one  moment  elated  with  extravagant 
hopes,  the  next  depressed  with  unseasonable  tears. 
The  wisdom  of  a  Moses  had  been  unequal  to  the  task, 
unsupported  by  the  Wisdom  which  sees  all  things  at  one 
view,  and  the  Power  which  "  worketh  all  things  after 
the  counsel  of  his  own  will." 

There  is  a  happy  disposition  in  all  the  evils  to  which 
our  nature  and  condition  are  subject,  to  find  out  and 
to  apply  their  own  remedy.  Necessity  always  sets  in- 
vention to  work.  Invention  puts  the  machine  in  mo- 
tion ;  and  once  in  motion,  every  wheel  keeps  its  place, 
exerts  its  power,  performs  its  office.  But  here  the 
mighty  machine,  prepared  in  all  its  parts  according  to 
the  plan  of  infinite  wisdom,  put  together  and  regulated 
by  the  hand  of  almighty  jjower,  and  conducted  by  un- 
changeable truth  and  laithtblness,  could  not  \aiy  its 
motion,  could  not  deviate  from  its  design  :  and  the  pas- 
sage of  perhaps  Ibur  millions  of  people,  with  their  im- 
mense possessions  of  flocks  and  herds,  and  other  pro- 
perty, from  Egypt  to  Canaan,  will  appear  one  of  those 
singular  phenomena  in  history,  wiiich  no  principles  of 
human  conduct,   no  natural  and  ordinary  concurrence 

VOL.    II.  Q 


122  HISTORY  OF   MOSES.  LECT.    IX' 

of  events,  are  able  to  explain  ;  and  which  must  finally 
be  resolved  into  a  wisdom  and  power  preternatural  and 
divine.  Accordingly  we  find  Providence  taking  imme- 
diately the  charge  of  them  ;  but  not  in  the  usual  way, 
not  by  forming  a  regular  discipline,  and  raising  up  com- 
manders and  magistrcites  of  unusual  address  and  ability, 
but  declaring  by  sensible  tokens,  which  were  seen,  read 
and  understood  of  all,  '*  1  am  the  Leader  and  Com- 
vmndcr  of  my  people." 

But  before  we  proceed  to  the  consideration  of  this 
wonderful  symbol  of  the  divine  presence,  we  must  at- 
tend our  author,  and  take  notice  of  a  tender  and  touch- 
ing circunT-^ance  in  the  departure  from  Egypt,  namely, 
the  remox'iiig  of  the  bones  of  Joseph.  That  truly 
great  man  had  been  the  saviour  of  his  father's  house 
when  he  was  aliye,  and  was  now  the  hope  of  Israel 
after  he  was  dead.  In  all  their  afflictions,  his  precious 
dust  had  been  to  them  the  pledge  of  deliverance ;  and 
now  when  that  deliverance  is  cume,  they  bear  it  with 
them  to  the  land  promised  to  their  forefathers,  for  bu- 
rial. Thu.s  respectable  and  useful,  in  life  and  in  death, 
are  the  wise  and  the  good ;  thus  anxious  ought  we  to 
be  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  mankind,  not  only 
while  we  are  j^et  with  them ;  but  to  leave  something 
behind  us  that  may  benefit  and  instruct  after  we  are 
seeiT  and  heard  no  more.  Christians,  we  carry  with 
us,  as  our  hope  in  this  wilderness,  not  the  bones  of  a 
departed  deliverer,  but  the  memory  of  a  risen  Saviour. 
The  sacred  pledge  of  our  final  redemption  is  deposited, 
not  in  a  coffin,  but  hi  this  precious  record. ...but  in  the 
history  of  facts,  well  known  and  firmly  believed  by 
you.... but  in  many  great  and  precious  promises  given 
unto  3  ou.  "  For  if  we  believe  that  Jesus  died,  and 
rose  again  ;  even  so  them  also  which  sleep  in  Jesus  will 
God  bring  with  him."  The  ashes  of  the  patriarch  Jo- 
seph could  not  rest  in  the  tomb  till  Israel  came  to  the 
possession  of  their  promised  inheritance;  so  the  Spirit 
and  providence  of  the  great  Redeemer  are  in  perpetual 


LECT.    IX.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  125 

motion  and  exercise,  till  he  shall  have  gathered  into 
one  all  his  redeemed  unto  himself:  till  the  voun<^est 
of  his  sons,  the  meanest  of  his  daughters,  bein^i^  ijiori- 
fied,  shall  take  |)Ossession  of  their  purchased  iiihcrif- 
anc*,  "  the  kingdom  prepared  for  them  from  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world." 

Thus  then  Israel  takes  his  departure  ;  thus  joyfully, 
thus  triumphantly,  thus  increased ;  and  "  not  one 
sickly  or  feeble  among  them  ;"  a  wonder  not  inferior  to 
any  of  the  rest.  But  all  "  is  of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  who 
is  wonderful  in  counsel,  and  excellent  in  working." 

The  plain  of  Rameses  was  the  first  great  rendezvous 
of  the  Lord's  host.  They  had  built,  as  part  of  their 
task-work,  a  city  of  that  name  at  the  command  of  Pha- 
raoh. But  it  was  also  the  name  of  a  region  of  Egypt 
elsewhere  called  Goshen ;  the  same  which  Joseph 
cliose  for  tiie  reception  of  his  aged  parent ;  becausri 
being  situated  nearest  to  Canaan,  it  diminished  the 
length  and  fatigue  of  his  journey,  and  being  a  grassy 
country,  suited  his  family's  employment,  that  of  shep- 
herds. The  nearness  to  Canaan  might  accordingly  be 
now  again  considered  as  a  favorable  circumstaiice  to 
the  return  of  Israel  thitherward.  If  we  may  credit 
'Philo,  the  two  countries  were  not  above  tln-ee  days 
journey  distant  the  one  trom  the  other.  And  certain 
it  is  that  tlie  patriarchs,  encumbered  with  a  convoy 
laden  with  corn,  easil}^  performed  a  journey  to  a  more 
distant  part  of  Egypt,  and  back  again,  in  the  course 
of  not  many  weeks  at  most.  Aloses  might  therefore 
have,  witliout  much  diliiculty,  conducted  the  people  of 
his  charge  to  the  place  of  their  destination  in  a  very 
small  space  of  time.  But  was  the  distance  of  place 
the  oniy  difiiculty  which  they  had  to  encounter?  How 
could  men  inured  to  slavery,  men  just  escaped  from 
the  rod  of  a  tyrannical  oj'pressor,  have  the  coinage  to 
meet  the  prowess  and  discipline  of  the  warlike 
nations  of  Canaan  ;  unprovided  with  arms  lor  the  lit;!.'!, 
and   with  m.litary  euirines  lor  the   iUtack  of  ibrtilicJ 


124  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    IX. 

towns,  had  they  been  bold  enough  to  attempt  to  take 
possession  by  force.  Some  interpreters,  indeed,  ren- 
der the  word  harnessed,  h\  the  eighteenth  verse  of  the 
thirteenth  chapter,  aimed.  But  the  term  in  the  ori- 
ginal is  so  eqtuvocul,  and  the  learned  attempts  to  de- 
termine its  meaning  are  so  nnsuccessful,  that  we  remain 
still  in  the  dark  about  its  true  meaning.  The  presump- 
tion cettainlv  is,  that  the  Israelites  were  not  armed. 
What  had  a  nation  of  shepljerds,  livinu  by  sufferance 
in  a  foreign  land,  to  do  with  arms  ?  Would  the  policy 
of  Egypt  have  permitted  it  ?  But  Moses,  the  most 
accurate  of  historians,  takes  care  to  point  out  a  cir- 
circumstance  which  furnishes  the  first  idea  of  putting 
arms  into  the  hands  of  Israel.  After  the  waves  of  the 
Red  Sea  had  swallowed  up  the  Egyptian  army,  their 
dead  bodies  with  their  arms  were  miraculously  cast  on 
shore,  and  provided  Israel  with  armour  from  their 
spoils. 

It  is  evident  that  God  intended  to  form  the  courage 
and  discipline  of  his  people  in  the  wilderness,  before 
he  tried  these  upon  the  nations  whom  they  were  des- 
tined to  subdue.  Nay,  further,  it  was  evidently  his 
design  to  settle  their  whole  civil  and  religious  polity, 
while  they  were  yet  in  an  erratic  state,  that  when  they 
came  to  Canaan  there  might  be  nothing  to  do  but  to 
take  possession,  and  to  execute  the  Jaws  which  they 
bad  already  received.  And  alas,  what  shall  we  say  ? 
This  swarm  of  people,  numerous  as  the  sand  upon  the 
tica-shore,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two,  and  Mo- 
ses their  leader  among  the  rest,  thus  pompously  and 
powerfully  saved,  were  saved  from  Egypt,  but  to  die  in 
the  wilderness.  Men  die,  but  the  church  lives  :  and 
the  church  is  the  care  of  God.  "Thy  way,  O  God, 
is  in  the  sea,  and  thy  path  in  tlje  great  waters,  and  thy 
fbotste{)s  are  not  known.  Thou  leddest  thy  peo])le 
like  a  iiock,  by  the  hand  of  Moses  and  Aaron,"  Psalm 
Ixxvii.  19. 


LECT.  IX.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  125 

Instead  then  of  marching  staight  northward,  in  the 
direction  of  Canaan,  tiicir  conr^e  is  bent  enstwanJ,  to 
the  great  wilderness  which  bounds  I'^gypt  and  Arabia 
Petricu :  God  himselt'leading  the  way,  in  a  most  won- 
deri'nl  display  of  his  giorioiis  presence  and  {)ower,  des- 
cribed in  the  words  which  1  read  at  the  opening  of  the 
Lecture.  "And  they  took  liieir  jourjiey  from  Suc- 
coth,  and  encamped  in  EUunn,  in  tlie  edge  of  the  wil- 
derness. And  the  Lord  went  before  them,  by  day  in 
a  pillar  of  a  cloud,  to  lead  them  the  way  ;  and  l)y  night 
in  a  pillar  of  fire,  to  give  them  light ;  to  go  by  day  and 
night.  He  took  not  away  the  pillar  of  the  cloud  by  day, 
nor  the  pillar  of  fire  by  night,  from  before  the  people," 
Exod.  xiii.  20,  21,  22.  In  this  God  spake  at  once  to 
the  understanding  and  to  the  senses.  Could  any  Is- 
raelite doubt  that  the  Lord  was  there  ?  He  had  but  to 
open  his  eyes,  whether  it  were  by  day  or  by  night,  and 
lo,  a  thick  cloud  obscuring  the  brigljtness  of  tlie  one, 
or  a  flaming  fire  dispelling  the  shades  of  the  other, 
proclaimed  the  dread  presence  o^  Jehovah.  Could 
any  one  call  in  question  his  kindness,  when  he  saw 
darkness  become  a  guide,  and  fire  a  protector  t  Durst 
any  one  presume  to  approach  too  nigh,  when  dimness 
impenetrable,  and  light  inaccessible,  alternately  guard- 
ed his  pavilion  }  A^'^as  it  possible  for  any  heart  to  fear, 
when  the  Most  Alighty  thus  declared,  in  language 
more  emphatical  than  can  be  conveyed  by  words.... 
"  Lo,  I  am  for  you  !  Who  is  he  that  can,  that  dare  to 
be  against  you  ?'* 

The  appearances  of  God  are  suited  to  the  circum- 
stances of  his  people.  Cloud  by  night  would  have 
been  to  increase  the  horror,  and  to  multiply  the  un- 
"wholesome  damps  of  that  season.  Fire  by  day  would 
have  been  adding  fuel  to  aflame,  already  intensely  hot, 
in  a  burning  climate  and  parched  soil.  But  tempered, 
adapted,  distributed,  according  to  uisdom  not  capable 
of  error,  the  peculiar  inconvenience  of  each  season  is 
relieved ;  and  the  ills  of  nature  are  remedied  by  the 


126  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    IX. 

dispensations  of  grace.  The  cloudy  fiery  pillar  is  a 
manifestation  of  Deity,  suited  to  a  wilderness  state. 
In  heaven,  a  God  of  love  is  light,  without  *'  any  dark- 
ness at  all."  In  hell,  a  God  of  implacable  wrath  is 
perpetual  darkness,  without  one  ray  of  light.  On 
earth,  a  God  of  justice  and  mercy  is  darkness  and 
light,  in  successive  order  and  perfect  harmony.  In 
heaven,  he  is  a  flame  that  irradiates,  cheers  and  quick- 
ens ;  in  hell,  a  fire  still  consuming,  never  to  be  extin- 
guished ;  on  earth,  fire  in  a  cloud,  mercy  flowing  in  a 
spacious  channel,  judgment  restrained.  Men  can  only 
discover  that  of  God  which  he  is  pleased  to  reveal  to 
them.  Whether  he  is  pleased  to  turn  his  dark  or  bright 
side  to  us,  we  are  stationed  equally  at  a  distance  from 
him.  To  be  sensible  of  our  own  darkness  is  to  be  par- 
takers of  his  marvellous  light.  All  that  the  brightest 
noon  of  human  reason  can  discover  is,  that  it  is  ignor- 
ance and  folly,  when  placed  in  comparison  with  the 
wisdom  of  God. 

Might  not  this  wonderful  pillar  prefigure  to  the  an- 
cient church  the  person  and  office  of  the  Redeemer  of 
the  world  ?  Behold  the  divine  essence  wrapped  up  iuy 
and  closely  imited  to,  a  veil  of  flesh  and  blood.  Be- 
hold Deity  raising  our  nature  to  incorruptibility  and 
glory  "  in  Christ,  the  first-fruits  ;  and  afterwards  in 
all  that  are  Christ's,  at  his  coming."  Do  we  not  per- 
ceive in  it,  humanity  bringing  down  the  divine  nature 
to  our  bearing  and  perception;  "the  only  begotten 
Son,  who  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father,  declaring  him 
to  us."  "  The  word  made  flesh"  instructing  the  ig- 
norant, cheering  the  disconsolate,  directing  the  wan- 
derer, refreshing  the  weary  ;  guiding  our  waking,, 
guarding  our  sleeping  moments;  "  a  partaker  of  our 
flesh  and  blood,  that  he  may  be  a  merciful  High- 
Priest:"  declared  the  Son  of  God  with  power;  men 
adoring  and  submitting ;  the  powers  of  hell  broken 
a  id  discomfited  :  the  triumph  of  heaven  complete. 
J-  The  Lord  our  God  is  a  sun  and  shield :  the  Lord 


LECT.  IX.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  12? 

will  give  grace  and  glory  :  no  good  thing  will  he 
withhold  from  them  that  walk  uprightly,"  Psalm 
Ixxxiv.  11.  "Fear  not,  O  Israel,  the  Lord  is  thy 
keeper :  the  Lord  is  thy  shade  upon  thy  right  hand. 
The  sun  shall  not  smite  thee  by  day,  nor  the  moon 
by  night.  The  Lord  shall  preserve  thee  from  all  evil ; 
he  shall  preserve  thy  soul.  The  Lord  shall  preserve 
thy  going-out,  and  thy  coming-in,  from  this  time 
forth,  and  eveii  forevermore,"  Psalm  cxxi.  5.. ..8. 


H I  STORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  X. 

And  Moses  stretched  out  his  hand  over  the  sea  ;  and 
the  Lord  caused  the  sea  to  go  bac/c  by  a  strong  east 
rvind  alt  that  night,  and  made  the  sea  dry  land,  and 
the  waters  were  divided.  And  tJie  children  of  Israel 
zvent  into  tlie  midst  of  tlie  sea  upon  tlie  dry  ground : 
and  the  ivaters  zvere  a  zvall  unto  tliem  on  tlieir  right 
hand,  and  on  t/ieir  left. ...Exodus  xiv.  21,  ^2. 

IN  the  liftle  benefits  which  men  confer  upon  each 
other,  it  generally  happens  that  some  untoward 
circumstance  insinuates  itself,  and  occasions,  to  one  of 
the  parties  at  least,  mortification,  disappointment  or 
(hsgust ;  for  nothing  human  is  perfect.  A  gracious 
action  is  frequently  resented  as  an  injury,  from  the 
ungracious  manner  in  which  it  is  performed.  I  am 
charmed  with  both  the  matter  of  that  kindness  shewn 
me,  and  the  affectionate  disposition  which  prompted 
it;  biit  alas,  it  arrived  an  hour  too  late!  Another 
prevented  my  wishes  ;  and  I  prized  not  the  blessing, 
because  I  was  not  instructed  in  its  value  by  feeling  the 
want  of  it.  This  favor  done  me  is  very  great,  but  it 
is  not  precisely  the  thing  1  looked  for  ;  or,  it  is  so  clog- 
ged with  some  unpleasant  condition,  that  I  would  ra- 
ther be  without  it  :  it  affords  me  present  relief,  but 
will  it  not  involve  me  in  greater  diiliculties  hereafter  .? 
Had  1  failed  in  my  expectations  from  this  quarter, 
I  shonid  easily  have  gained  my  end  by  applying  to 
another  friend.  In  a  word,  there  is  a  \)e\petim\  some- 
thing,  in  the  friendly  communications  of  men,  which 
continually  marrs  the  worth  of  what  is  given  and  re- 


J.ECT.  X.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  129 

ceived.  And  no  wonder,  if  we  consider  that  favors 
are  not  always  granted  from  allccLJoii,  nor  accepted 
witli  gratitude.  JBut  the  l)ounties  iA'  Heaven  possess 
every  quality  that  can  enhance  their  value,  and  endear 
their  .Vutlior  to  a  sensible  heart.  Infinitely  valuable  in 
tlieniseJves,  they  flow  Irom  love.  The  "  good  and  per- 
fect gifts',  which  come  down  from  the  Fatiier  of  lights," 
are  given  "  liberally,  and  without  upbraiding."  Exact- 
]y  wljat  we  need,  tliey  come  precisely  at  tlie  moment 
when  we  want  them  most,  or  when  tiiey  are  most  bene- 
ficial to  us.  Worthy  of  God  to  bestow;  they  cannot  be 
unworthy  of  us  to  receive.  Were  he  to  withliold  his  gra- 
cious aid,  in  vain  should  we  look  for  relief  from  any 
other  (juarter.  Productive  of  present  satisfaction  and 
joy,  his  benefiLs  involve  us  in  no  future  distress,  shame 
or  remorse.  Serviceable  to  the  body,  they  are  at  the 
same  time  improving  to  the  mind.  Important  and  in- 
teresting for  time, they  have  an  influence  upon  eternity. 
The  gracious  interpositions  of  Jehovah  in  behalf  of 
his  chosen  people,  have  this  peculiar  recommendation 
to  our  attention,  as  to  that  people's  grateful  observa- 
tion and  acknowledgment. ...that  they  were  not  in  the 
usual  course  of  things  ;  they  were  the  fruits  of  the  con- 
stant and  unremitting  care  of  a  special  providence  ; 
they  were  the  suspension  or  alteration  of  the  establish- 
ed laws  of  nature;  they  were  the  operation  of  a  nnghty 
hand,  and  an  out-stretched  arm, sensibly  controlling  the 
winds,  the  waves  and  the  clouds;  and  subduing  the  most 
ungovernable  elements  to  its  purpose.  Other  parents 
are  endued  with  transitory  atfections  and  attachments, 
suited  to  the  transitory  nature  of  the  trust  committed 
to  them.  The  hen  tends  her  uniledged  brood  with  the 
vigilance  of  a  dragon  and  the  boldness  of  a  lion.  But 
maternal  tenderness  and  anxiety  diminish  and  expire 
with  the  occasion  of  them,  namely,  tlie  weakness  and 
inexperience  of  her  young  ones.  When  the  son  is  be- 
come a  man,  paternal  care  relaxes,  and  paternal  au- 
thority is  at  an  end.     But,  as  the  authority  of  our 

VOL.    II.  R  • 


130  HISTORY  OF  xMOSES.  LECT.  X. 

heave.. !y  Father  never  ceases,  so  his  bowels  of  com- 
})as.si<>n  are  never  restrained  3  his  vigilance  is  never 
lulled  to  re^it,  his  care  wever  suspended  5  because  his 
oilspring  is,  to  the  last,  impotent,  improvident,  imper-^ 
iisct. 

Iw  vain  had  Israel,  by  a  series  of  miracles  unparallel- 
ed in  the  aiinals  of  mankind,  been  rescued  from  Egyp- 
tian oppression,  had  not  the  same  almighty  arm  which 
delivered  them  at  first,  continued  to  protect  and  sup- 
port them.  The  strength  of  Egypt,  broken  as  it  was, 
liad  been  sufiicient  to  force  them  back.  The  wilder- 
ness itself  had  been  fatal  to  them,  without  a  foe.  How 
easHy  are  the  greatest  deliverances  forgotten ;  how 
soon  are  the  most  awful  appearances  familarized  to  the 
mind  }  Tiie  very  first  threatening  of  danger  eilaces 
iiom  the  memory  of  these  Israelites  all  impression  of 
the  powerful  wonders  which  had  just  passed  before 
them,  and  eclispses  the  glory  of  that  cloud  which,  at 
that  very  instant,  presented  itself  to  their  eyes,  and 
overshadowed  their  heads.  But  let  not  self-flattery 
impose  upon  us,  as  if  we  were  more  faithful  and  obe- 
dient than  they  were.  It  is  the  mere  deception  of  va- 
nity and  self-love  to  suppose,  that  '*  if  one  were  to  arise 
fiom  the  dead,  we  would  be  persuaded;"  that  if  we  saw 
a  miracle  wrought,  we  would  believe  ;  that  if  v»'e  heard 
Christ  teach  in  our  streets,  we  would  forsake  all  and 
follow  him."  The  man,  whom  the  usual  appearances 
of  nai'ure  do  not  move,  v^ould  soon  become  insensible 
to  more  uncommon  phenomena.  For,  extraordinary 
things  frequently  repeated  are  no  longer,  and  conse- 
quently soon  lose  their  force.  If  the  daily  miracles 
of  God's  mercy  and  loving-kindness  fail  to  convince 
men,  what  reason  is  there  to  hope,  that  mere 
exertions  of  power  would  produce  a  happier  ef- 
fect ?  l(  Christ,  speaking  by  his  word  and  ministering 
servants,  be  treated  with  neglect,  is  it  likely  that  his 
person  would  be  held  in  veneration  ?  If  men  "  hea.i 
not  Moses  and  the  prophets,  neither  w  ill  they  be  per- 


lECT.  X.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  151 

siiaded  though  one  rose  from  tlie  dead,"  r.iike  xvi.  31. 
Is  it  not  notorious,  that  Christ's  personal  ministra- 
tions were  shghted,  his  miracles  vililicd,  his  character 
traduced  ? 

Whose  conduct  is  the  more  absurd  and  criminal, 
that  of"  Pharaoh,  in  pursuing  after  and  attemj>ting  to 
bring  back  a  people,  who  had  been  a  snare  and  a  curse 
to  hims<  11'  and  his  kingdom  ;  or  that  of  Israel.,  in 
trembling  at  the  approach  of  an  enemy,  whom  God 
had  so  often  subdued  under  them  ?  Frail  nature  looks 
only  to  the  creature  ;  to  surrounding  mountains,  op- 
posing floods,  persecuting  foes :  hence  terror,  confusion 
and  astonishment.  But  faith  eyes  the  pillar,  the  resi- 
dence of  divine  majesty,  and  then  mountains  sink, 
seas  divide,  the  chariot  and  horseman  are  overthrown. 
Every  passion,  when  it  becomes  predominnnt,  renders 
lis  silly  and  unreasonable;  and  none  more  so  than  fear. 
In  danger  and  distress  it  is  natural,  but  it  is  foolish,  to 
impute  to  another  the  evils  which  we  fear  or  feel.  It 
seems  to  be  an  alleviation  of  our  own  misery,  if  we  can 
contrive  to  shift  the  blame  of  it  upon  the  shoulders  of  our 
neighbor.  Hence  Moses  is  loaded  with  the  imputa- 
tion of  a  deliberate  design  of  involving  his  nation  in 
this  dire  dilemma,  between  Pharaoh  and  the  Red  Sea, 
and  of  selling  them  to  the  foe.  A  high  and  responsible 
situation  is  far  from  being  an  enviable  one.  If  things 
go  well,  the  conductor  of  the  undertaking  receives  but 
a  divided,  a  mutilated  praise.  If  an  enterprise  fail,  the 
whole  blame  of  the  miscarriage  is  imputed  to  him. 
The  astonished  multitude  dare  not  directly  attack  God 
himself.  No  :  the  cloudy  pillar  hangs  over  their  heads, 
ready  to  busrt,  in  thunder  and  fire,  on  the  man  who 
presumed  to  aim  his  shafts  so  high.  But  their  impiety 
seeks  the  pitiful  shelter  of  a  subterfuge  ;  they  murmur 
against  Moses,  because  they  imagine  they  can  do  it 
with  impunity  :  and  think  to  escape  the  resentment  of 
the  master,  though  they  are  wounding  him  through 
the  sides  of  his  servant.     Mark  yet  again  the  folly  and 


132  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.   X. 

unreasonableness  of  fear.  "  Because  there  were  no 
graves  in  Eg-ypt,  hast  thou  taken  us  away  to  die  in  the 
wilderness  ?  Wherefore  hast  thou  dealt  thus  with  us, 
to  carry  us  forth  out  of  Egypt  ?  Is  not  this  the  word 
that,  we  did  tell  thee  in  Egypt,  saying.  Let  us  alone, 
that  we  may  serve  the  Egyptians  ?  For  it  had  been  bet- 
ter for  us  lo  serve  the  Egyptians,  than  that  we  should 
die  in  the  wilderness."  What  were  they  afraid  of 
now  }  A  grave  in  the  wilderness.  What  do  they  put 
in  comparison  with,  and  prefer  to  it }  A  grave  in 
Egypt.  It  was  a  grave  at  the  worst.  Their  wretched 
lives  had  got  at  least  a  short  reprieve.  If  they  died 
now,  they  died  at  once  ;  and  died  like  men,  defending 
their  lives,  liberty,  and  families  :  not  pouring  out  life, 
drop  by  drop,  under  the  whip  of  a  taskmaster.  But 
slavery  has  broken  their  spirit.  They  are  reduced  to 
the  lowest  pitch  of  human  wretchedness ;  for  this  sure- 
Iv,  is  the  last  stasre  of  it.  *'  It  had  been  better  for  us 
to  serve  the  Egyptians,  than  that  we  should  die  in 
the  u'ilderness." 

To  this  abject  view  of  degeneracy  and  dejection,  two 
objects  are  placed  in  contrast. ..the  calmness  and  intre- 
pidity of  Aloses,  and  the  majesty  and  power  of  God. 
In  contemplating  the  former  of  these,  as  one  great  ob- 
ject of  these  Lectures  is  to  unfold  human  character, 
and  to  hold  up  to  imitation  and  applause  praise-worthy 
conduct,  let  me  endeavor  to  fix  your  attention  upon 
the  more  obvious  features  of  the  great  man,  who  is 
here  drawinc:  his  own  portrait. 

All  the  great  interests  of  Moses  were  embarked, 
with  those  of  the  commonwealth  of  Israel.  His  lot 
was  cast  into  the  common  lap.  He  had  made  a  sacri- 
fice unspeakably  greater  than  any  individual  of  the 
congregation  had  done.  His  prospects,  for  either  him- 
self or  his  family,  were  neither  brighter  nor  more  flat- 
tering than  those  of  the  obscurest  Hebrew  among 
them.  U  there  were  danger  from  the  pursuing  host 
«f  Pharaoh,  his  share,  most  assurcdiv,  was  not  less 


LECT.    X.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  ]33 

than  that  of  any  other  man.  lie  had  rendered  him- 
self peculiarly  obnoxious  to' that  stern,  unrelenting  ty- 
rant, niui  must  have  been  amonu;  tlie  first  victims  of  his 
resentment.  But  the  pressing  danger  of  Moses  did 
not  arise  from  Pharaoh,  and  the  Egyptians,  but  from 
an  intimiflated,  distracted  multitude,  who  were  ready 
to  wreak  their  vengeance  on  whoever  might  Hrst  ineet 
their  resentment,  or  could  be  most  ])lausibly  charged 
as  the  author  of  their  misfortunes.  The  composure  of 
Moses,  in  such  circumstances,  is  therefore  justly  to  be 
considered  as  an  instance  of  uncommon  heroism  and 
magnanimity.  But  why  do  we  talk  of  heroism  }  the 
man  who  fears  God  knows  no  other  fear.  In  the  con- 
fidence of  faith,  though  he  knew  not  yet  \\'hich  way 
God  was  to  work  deliverance  for  Israel,  he  thus  at- 
tempts to  dilFuse  the  hope,  which  he  ft^lt  irradiating  his 
own  soul :  *'  Fear  ye  not  ;  stand  still,  and  see  the  sal- 
vation of  the  Lord,  which  he  will  shew  to  you  to-day  : 
for  the  Egyptians  which  ye  have  seen  to-day,  ye  shall 
see  them  again  no  more  forever.  The  Lord  shall  fight 
for  you,  and  ye  shall  hold  your  peace." 

Let  me  entreat  you  to  observe,  that  the  agent  in 
this  great  transaction  is  also  the  historian  of  it ;  and 
that  the  resolution  and  spirit  of  the  one  is  to  be  equal- 
led only  by  the  modesty  and  simplicity  of  the  other. 
In  the  hands  of  one  of  the  eloquent  orators  of  Greece 
or  Rome,  what  a  figure  would  this  passage  of  the  life 
of  the  Jewish  legislator  have  made,  could  we  suppose 
them  entering  into  the  situation  of  a  stranger,  with  the 
warmth  which  they  feel  in  delineating  the  characters 
and  conduct  of  their  own  heroes,  and  embellishing  the 
dignity  of  modest  merit  with  the  glowing  ornaments 
of  rhetoric  ?  But  scripture  says  much,  by  saying  little. 
And  the  meek  reserve,  the  unaffected  conciseness  of 
the  sacred  historian,  inlinitely  exceed  the  ditfusive  and 
labored  panegyrics  of  profane  poetry  or  history. 
We  have  already,  perhaps,  deviated  too  far  from  that 
beauliful  simplicity  j  and  diminished,  instead  of  magni- 


134  _  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    X. 

fjing  onr  object,  by  multiplying  words.  We  hasten 
therefore,  with  our  author,  to  contemplate  an  object 
of  irilinitely  higher  consideration  than  himselfj  to 
which  he  constantly  brings  his  own,  and  instructs  us  to 
bring  our  tribute  of  praise. 

Behold  the  obstructions,  which  nature  and  art  and 
accident  have  assembled  to  distress,  to  discourage,  and 
to  destroy  the  church  of  God  !  An  impassable  ridge 
of  mountains  upon  the  right  hand  and  upon  the  left  j 
the  roaring  sea  in  front ;  a  powerful,  exasperated,  re- 
vengeful enemy  following  close  behind  ;  internal  weak- 
ness, irresolution  and  dissension  :  the  voice  of  sedition 
loud  ;  Moses  on  his  face  before  God.  In  such  a  situ- 
ation as  this,  Omnipotence  alone  can  save.  No  voice 
but  that  of  a  God  is  worthy  of  being  heard.  Be  silent 
then,  O  heavens,  and  listen  O  earth,  it  is  God,  who 
speaks.  "  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Where- 
fore criest  thou  unto  me?  Speak  unto  the  children  of 
Israel,  that  they  go  forward  !"  What  sublimity,  sim- 
plicity, and  force  was  here  !  "Go  forward  !"  What, 
into  the  raging  billows  ?  Great  God,  thy  commands 
declare  thy  name  and  thy  nature  !  What  power  ex- 
cept thine  own,  but  must  have  been  exposed  and  dis- 
graced, by  assuming  such  a  high  tone  of  authority  i 
But  what  obstacle  can  oppose  Him,  who  said,  "  Let 
there  be  light, and  there  was  light  ?"  "  who  spake,and  it 
was  done  ;  who  gave  commandment,  and  it  stood  fast  ?*' 

My  heart  is  agitated  with  a  mixture  of  fear  and  joy 
as  I  proceed.  "  The  Lord  God  has  given  the  word.,.. 
Let  the  people  go  forward."  When  lo,  the  conduct- 
ing pillar  instantly  changes  its  position,  and  solemnly 
retreats  to  the  rear  of  the  Israelitish  host.  The  word 
given  clears  all  the  way  before  them,  and  *'  the  glory 
of  the  Lord  becomes  their  reward."  Nov.-,  behold  the 
double  effect  of  this  symbol  of  the  divine  pre.'-ence  I 
To  Israel,  the  cloud  is  all  light  and  favor ;  to  the  Egyp- 
tians, all  darkness  and  dismay.  1  o  those,  night  shin- 
eth  as  the  day. ...to  these,  there  is  obscurity  at  noon- 


LECT.  X.  HISTORY  OF    MOSES.  ]' 


jO 


day  !  "  And  the  angei  of  God,  wliicli  went  before  the 
cump  (jf  Israel,  removed,  and  went  behind  theni ; 
and  the  pillar  of  the  cloud  went  from  beiorc  their  iiiee, 
and  stood  behind  them.  And  it  came  between  the 
camp  of  the  Euyptians,  and  the  cani[)  of  Israel ;  and 
it  was  a  cloud  and  darkness  to  ilicm,  but  it  ^ave  liuht 
by  night  to  these:  so  that  the  one  came  not  near  liie 
other  ail  the  night."  Awful  distinction  !  Where  shall 
we  find  the  rolution  of  the  difiiculty  ?  where,  but  in 
this,  "  He  zcill  have  mercy  on  whom  he  will  have 
mercy  ;  and  whom  he  will  he  hardeneth,"  Rom.  ix.  18. 
To  prepare  us  lor  the  history  of  the  miracle  which 
follows,  give  your  attention,  for  a  {<^\m  moments,  to 
what  every  man  and  woman  among  you  may  have  ob- 
served a  thousand  and  a  thousand  times.  Go  to  the 
bank  of  the  river,  go  to  the  shore  of  the  sea,  and  twice 
in  every  twenty-four  hours,  as  certainly  as  light  pro- 
ceeds from  the  sun,  what  is  now  dry  land  will  be  cover- 
ed with  vvater,  and  what  is  now  overflowed  shall  infal- 
libly become  dry  ground.  Farther,  when  a  little  wan- 
dering star,  called  the  moon,  is  in  this  direction,  or  in 
that,  the  whole  waters  of  the  globe,  in  the  ocean,  in 
the  seas,  in  the  rivers,  are  elevated  or  depressed  to  such 
a  certain  degree.  Let  that  planet  be  in  an  eastern  or 
a  western  direction,  the  tide  is  precisely  at  the  same 
pitch  of  height  or  depth.  After  we  have  made  this 
remark,  which  is  obvious  to  the  notice  and  level  to  the 
understanding  of  a  child  ;  the  question  will  naturally 
occur.  What,  does  this  never  fail .''  May  we  depend 
and  act  upon  the  certainty  of  such  a  regular  succes- 
sion and  change  taking  place  ?  Do  the  waters  of  the 
earth  thus  certainly  feel,  or  seem  to  feel  the  various  ap- 
pearances of  the  moon  ?  Then  it  cannot  be  without 
the  design  and  interposition  of  an  intelligent  and  pow- 
erful cause,  which  never  misses  its  aim,  is  never  off  its 
guard,  is  never  thwarted  or  defeated  by  unforeseen  ob- 
stacles. Then,  that  invisible,  unknown,  incomprehen- 
sible power,  may  exercise  a  discretionary  influence 


136  HISTORY  OF    MOSES.  LECT.    X. 

over  the  stream  of  a  particular  river,  over  the  billows 
of  a  particular  sea.  He  may,  with  or  without  appa- 
rent second  causes,  make  the  current  overflow  its 
banks,  or  the  channel  to  become  dry. 

Or,  to  make  another  appeal  to  common  observation 
anil  experience,  wiien  the  sun  is  in  such  a  certain  posi- 
tion with  respect  to  our  eaith,  and  the  wand  blows  in 
such  a  direction,  the  water  in  that  lake  will  be  liquid 
and  transparent,  and  the  smallest,  lightest  pebble  will 
sink  to  the  bottom.  Kut  let  the  elevation  of"  the  sun 
be  changed  to  an  angle  somewhat  more  acute,  and 
Jet  the  wind  shift  into  the  opposite  quarter,  then,  be- 
yond ail  doubt,  the  self-same  water  shall  become  solid 
as  the  rock,  lose  its  transparency,  and  become  capable 
of  sustaining  any  weight  that  can  be  put  upon  it.  How 
easy  had  it  been  for  Him,  who  produces  regularly  these 
changes  in  the  course  of  every  changing  year,  to  have 
given  the  globe  such  a  position,  as,  would  have  render- 
ed the  hoaiy  deep  one  vast  mountain  of  ice,  ail  the 
year  round,  or  have  prevented  a  single  drop  of  water 
from  ever  being  congealed.  And  "  wherefore  should 
it  be  thought  a  thing  incredible,"  that  such  an  one, 
willing  to  make  his  power  known,  and  his,  grace  felt, 
should  at  his  own  time,  and  in  his  own  way,  do  that 
in  a  particular  instance,  which  he  could  have  done  per- 
petually and  universally.  Grant  me  the  usual  appear- 
ances and  operations  of  nature,  and  I  am  prepared  tor 
all  the  uncommon,  miraculous  phenomena,  with  v.hich 
the  God  of  nature  may  see  meet  to  present  me.  We 
come,  accordingly,  to  the  history  of  dividing  the  Red 
Sea,  perfectlj' convinced  that  he  wiio  made  it  at  first, 
can  make  of  it  whatever  he  pleases ;  and  tlioroughly 
satisfied  that  the  occasion  of  such  a  notable  miracle,  as 
it  is  related  i>y  iVloses,  v^as  entirely  worthy  of  it. 

W  it  be  a  just  rule  in  criticism,  that  a  Deity  is  never 
to  be  introduced  but  w  hen  his  interposition  is  necessary, 
and  on  occasioiis  becoming  his  dignity,  the  Alosaic  ac- 
count of  this  wonderful  event,  stands  fully  justified  in 


LECT.  X.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  137 

point  of  taste  as  well  as  autUenticity.  The  powerful 
rod  is  once  more  stretched  out.  The  east  wind  blows  : 
the  sea  retires  ;  and  a  safe  and  easy  passage  is  opened 
for  Israel  through  the  chanuel  of  the  deep.  "  This  also 
Cometh  forth  from  the  Lord  of  hosts,  which  is  wonder- 
ful in  counsel,  and  excellent  in  working." 

"  Speak  unto  the  childreu  of  Israel  that  they  go 
forward.  The  word  which  commands  the  progress 
also  prepares  the  way.  As  in  latter  times,  by  the  ef- 
fectual working  of  the  same  almighty  power,  the  grace 
which  cured  the  father's  unbelief!,  at  the  self-same  in- 
stant likewise  cast  the  devil  out  of  the  son.  It  is  the 
sensible  language  of  the  common  proverb,  "  The  king 
said.  Sail ;  but  the  xvind  said,  No."  The  command 
of  the  King  of  kings  alone  procures  prompt  obedience 
from  every  creature  ;  for  all  are  his  subjects  in  fact,  as 
well  as  of  right.  Thrones,  principalities  and  powers 
are  subject  unto  him  ;  and  "  a  sparrow  falleth  not  to 
the  ground  without  our  heavenly  Father."  When  we 
behold  our  blessed  Saviour,  in  the  New  Testament, 
saying  to  the  stormy  wind  and  the  foaming  billows, 
*'  Peace,  be  still,"  and  a  great  calm  instantly  ensuing; 
and  compare  it  with  the  work  of  the  great  Jehovah 
under  review,  we  are  led  directly  to  the  conclusion  of 
the  Roman  centurian  who  observed  the  wonders  at- 
tending the  crucifixion,  "  Truly  this  was  the  Son  of 
God."' 

In  the  history  of  our  own  country  there  is  a  passage, 
which  the  event  we  are  considering  suggests  to  our 
thoughts,  and  which  does  honor  to  the  piety,  modesty 
and  good  sense  oithe  prince  whom  it  concerns.  Can- 
ute, one  of  the  earthly  kings  of  the  southern  division 
of  England,  ju.stly  disgusted  at  the  gross  and  impious 
adulation  of  some  of  his  courtiers,  who  ascribed  to 
him  the  attributes  which  belong  only  to  God,  and  call- 
ed him  "  lord  of  the  eartli  and  of  the  sea,"  that  he 
might  check  their  folly  by  something  more  than  a  sim- 
ple reproof,  commanded  his  chair  of  state  to  be  placed 

VOL.    II.  s 


13S  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    X, 

on  tfae  beach  near  Southampton,  during  the  flowing  of 
the  tide.  Arrayed  in  his  royal  robes,  and  attended  by 
all  the  nobility  and  great  men  of  his  court,  he  sat 
down  with  his  face  towards  the  sea,  and  thus  addressed 
it ;  "  I  charge  thee  upon  thy  allegiance,  O  sea,  to  ad- 
vance no  farther.  Here  I,  thy  lord,  have  thought  pro- 
per to  fix  my  station.  Know  thy  distance  j  respect 
my  authority,  nor  dare  to  touch  the  feet  of  thy  sove- 
reign, under  pain  of  his  highest  displeasure."  The 
swelling  billows,  regardless  of  his  command  and  threat- 
enings,  continued  to  rush  in,  advanced  impetuously  to 
the  steps  of  his  throne,  and  speedily  constrained  the 
monarch  and  his  train  to  retire.  Upon  which,  turn- 
ing round  to  his  flatterers,  he  observed,  "  that  he 
only  deserved  to  be  acknowledged  as  Lord  of  the 
land  and  the  sea,  whose  will  the  winds  and  the  waves 
obeyed." 

The  breadth  of  the  passage  opened  through  the 
Red  Sea  must  have  been  very  considerable  indeed,  to 
have  afforded  to  such  a  multitude  as  four  millions  of 
people,  for  less  there  could  not  be,  space  to  get  over 
in  a  single  night's  time.  To  determine  this  we  must 
have  recourse  to  calculation.  But  your  time  being 
far  spent,  this,  together  with  an  attempt  to  solve  some 
of  the  difficulties  of  the  dispensation,  and  to  remove 
some  of  the  objections  which  infidelity  has  raised  to 
the  credibility  or  miracuiousness  of  the  history,  must 
make  a  constifuent  part  of  another  Lecture. 

In  prf<ctically  applying  this  subject,  we  may  consi- 
der the  Red  Sea,  by  which  the  armies  of  Israel  were 
stopt  short,  as  an  emblematical  representation  of  that 
great  fight  of  affliction,  that  sea  of  trouble,  through 
which  every  believer  must  pass  in  his  way  to  the  hea- 
heaveniy  Canaan.  Through  the  furnaces  of  Egypt, 
through  the  parts  of  the  Red  Sea,  through  the  swell- 
ings of  Jordan,  God's  ancient  people  at  length  got 
possession  of  the  promised  land.  And  it  is  "  through 
manifold  tribulations  that  we  must  enter  into  the  king- 


i.r.cr.  X.  iiisioRY  of  moses.  1,'J9 

dom  of  God.  It  is  of  importance  not  ii\\\y  thitt  we 
be  going  ibrvvards,  but  that  we  be  iiiakini;"  |>rogFebs ; 
that  growtli  in  i;race  should  keep  pace  with  tlie  unin- 
tejiiipled  {lux  ol"  luirnan  lil'e.  The  coui>e  which  Pro- 
vidence leads  ns,  thouj^li  neither  the  shorlest  nor  the 
most  desirable,  will  be  found  upon  the  whole  tbe  safest, 
the  surest  and  tlic  best.  The  possession  ol  Canaan 
is  not  always  tlie  next  step  to  o«r  escape  from  Egypt. 
Jusiification  by  tbe  gruce  of  God  puts  us  be}  ond  the 
reach  of  our  enemies,  and  adoption  makes  good  our 
title  to  "  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light ;  "  but  it 
is  sanctification  that  makes  us  meet  for  the  enjuymeijt 
of  the  purchased  possession.  The  Red  Sea  seemed  to 
put  an  end  to  Israel's  progress,  but  actually  shortene^l 
the  distance.  So  afiliclion,  nhiie  it  appears  intended 
to  overwhelm,  is  accelerating  the  believer's  speed  to 
his  Father's  house  above.  *'  All  these  things  are 
against  me,"  saith  frail,  faltering  erring  man,  in  his 
haste.  "  We  know  that  all  things  work  together  for 
good  to  them  that  love  God,"  saith  the  better  inforiu- 
ed,  the  experience-taiight  christian,  on  reviewing  the 
mysterious  ways  of  Providence  ^  and  on  having  attain- 
ed "  the  end  of  his  faith,  even  the  salvation  of  his  t-oul." 
If  we  look  to  the  creature  only,  ail  is  dark  and  com- 
fortless: nothing  but  cloud.  When  through  the creu- 
ture  we  look  to  an  invisible  God,  all  is  peace  and 
joy.  We  cannot  remove  mountains,  nor  turn  Hoods 
into  dry  ground.  It  is  not  meet  we  should  be 
trusted  with  such  power.  Obedience  is  our  proper 
province;  submission  to  the  will  of  God  our  truest 
wisdom  ;  and  when  we  follow  the  direction  of  Provi- 
dence, our  way  cannot  but  be  prosperous.  "  Lord, 
we  will  follow  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest."  Hu- 
man conduct  is  a  woeful  inversion  of  this  rule.  \Vc 
torment  ourselves  about  the  event  over  which  we  have 
no  power,  and  trifle  with  the  commandment  with 
which  alone  we  have  to  do.  We  neglect  our  duty, 
and  then  foolishly  and  impiously  complain  that  we  are 


140  ^     HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  X. 

unkindly  dealt  by,  when  Providence  promotes  not,  or 
crosses  our  inclinations.  Let  us  shew  cheerful  and  un- 
reserved compliance ;  and  be  the  issue  what  it  may, 
whether  our  wishes  be  opposed  or  succeed,  we 
shall  at  least  have  the  consolation  of  reflecting,  that  the 
miscarriage  is  not  chargeable  to  our  own  perverseness 
or  folly.  It  is  a  dreadful,  it  is  a  two-edged  evil,  at  once 
to  lose  our  aim,  and  incur  the  just  displeasure  of  God 
by  disobedience.  "  Thy  will,"  O  Father,  "  be  done 
on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven."     Amen. 


I 


H I  STORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  XL 


Then  sang  Moses  and  /he  children  of  Israi  this'  so  fig 
unto  the  Lord,  and  spake,  saying,  I  icill  sing  unto 
the  Lord,  for  he  hath  triumphed  gloriously ;  the 
horse  and  his  rider  hath  he  thrown  into  the  sea.  The 
Lord  is  my  strength  and  song,  and  he  is  become  my 
salvation  :  he  is  my  God,  and  I  zvill  prepare  him  an 
habitation  ;  my  Father's  God,  and  I  tvili  exalt  him.... 
Exodus  xv.  1,  2. 

TO  no  one  man  has  the  world  been  so  much  indebterl 
for  rational  pleasure  and  useful  knowledi^e,  as  to 
the  inspired  author  of  these  sacred  books.  Moses,  as 
he  is  the  most  ancient,  so  he  is  by  far  the  best  writer 
that  ever  existed.  Never  in  one  and  the  same  cha- 
racter were  united  talents  so  various,  so  rare,  and  so 
valuable.  He  may  without  hesitation  be  pronounced, 
the  most  eloquent  of  historians,  the  sublimest  of  poets, 
the  profoundest  of  sages,  the  most  sagacious  of  politi- 
cians, the  most  acute  of  legislators,  the  most  intripid 
of  heroes,  the  clearest  sighted  of  prophets,  the  most 
amiable  of  men.  The  qualities  of  his  heart  seem  to 
strive  for  the  mastery  with  those  of  the  understanding : 
so  that  it  is  difficult  to  determine  whether,  as  the  re- 
puted son  of  Pharaoh's  daughter,  as  a  voluntary  exile 
i'rom  the  splendor  of  a  court,  as  the  sympathizing 
friend  of  his  afflicted  brethren,  as  the  bold  protector 
of  virgin  innocence,  as  the  contented  shepherd  of  Je- 
thro's  flock,  as  the  magnanimous  assertor  of  Israelitish 
liberty,   or  finally,  as  king  in  Jeshurnn,   ruling  the 


142  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LEC T.  XI, 

thousands  of  Israel  with  meekness  and  wisdom.... he 
most  challenges  our  achniration  and  praise.  Had  the 
world  liever  been  favored  with  his  works,  or  were  it 
now  to  be  deprived  of  that  preciou*  treasure,  the  loss 
were  inconceivably  great.  Who  does  not  shudder  at 
the  thought :  What  a  fearful  gap  in  the  history  of  man- 
kind !  What  a  blow  to  take,  what  a  blank  in  science, 
what  an  impoverishing  of  the  public  stock  of  harmless 
pleasure,  what  an  irijury  to  the  dearest,  the  be:it,  the 
everlasting  interests  of  mankind  1 

The  venerable  man,  who  has  for  so  many  evenings 
past  condescended  to  delight  and  instruct  us  by  the 
relation  of  events  the  most  singular,  interesting  and 
important,  assumes  this  night  anew  character j  and 
in  strains  the  sweetest  and  boldest  that  bard  ever  sung; 
in  verses  the  loftiest  that  the  imagination  of  poet  ever 
dictated,  rouses,  warms,  transports  the  mind.  We 
forget  the  distance  of  three  thousand  years.  We  feel 
ourselves  magically  conveyed  to  the  banks  of  the  Red 
Sea.  We  join  in  the  acclamations  of  the  redeemed  of 
the  Lord,  as  this  song  of  Moses  swells  upon  our  ear. 
"  Then  sang  Moses  and  the  children  of  Israel  this  song 
unto  the  Lord,  and  spake,  saying,  I  will  sing  unto  the 
Lord,  for  he  hath  triumphed  gloriously  ;  the  horse  and 
his  rider  hath  he  thrown  into  the  sea.  For  the  horse 
of  Pharaoh  went  in  with  his  chariots,  and  with  his 
horsemen  into  the  sea,  and  the  Lord  brought  again 
the  waters  of  the  sea  upon  them  ;  but  the  children  of 
Israel  went  on  dry  land  in  the  midst  of  the  sea.  The 
depths  have  covered  them  :  they  sank  into  the  bottom 
as  a  stone,"  Verses  1,  19. ...5.  How  wonderfully 
suited  to  each  other,  the  event  and  the  celebration  of  it ! 

In  fulfilling  the  promise  made  in  the  conclusion  of 
the  last  Lecture,  and  executing  the  business  of  the 
present,  three  objects  are  proposed.  First,  to  attempt 
a  Vindication  of  the  history -of  the  passage  of  the  Red 
Sea,  from  sojiae  objection«  which  have  been -made  to 
the  credibility  or  miraeulousaess  of  it.     Secondlv,  to 


LECT.  XI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  143 

make  a  few  criticisms  on  the  sacred  Lymn  w  liidi  was 
compcsc(]  on  the  occasion,  and  now,  in  part,  r(:ad  in 
your  hearing;  in  the  view  of  pointing  out  alow  of"  iJs 
more  striking  beauties.  And,  thirdly,  to  make  a  few 
ren>a!ks  on  sacred  poesy  in  general,  tending  to  evince 
its  superior  excellency;  and  to  point  out  the  delicacy 
and  diOjculty  of  atlenij)ting  to  amplify  or  imitate  v\Lat 
the  ins]iijed  poets  iiave  written,  as  heljxs  to  devotion. 
lu  the  first  1  shall,  without  ceremony  or  apology,  bor- 
row the  assistance  of  tlie  pious  and  learned  author  of 
Dissei-fations,  hislorical,  crilicnl,  theological  and  woraly 
on  the  most  viemorahlc  events  of  tJie  Old  and  Nlw 
Testament  history. ...}3i\x\QS  Sau.rin,  late  minister  of 
the  French  church  at  the  league.*  In  the  second,  I 
s';a!l  submit  to  be  instructed  by  an  ingenious,  pious  and 
eloquent  professor  of  rhetoric  in  the  university  of  Paris, 
who  iias  made  choice  of  this  passage,  expressly  for 
\\\Q  |;urpose  of  exemplilVmg  the  majesty,  beauty  and 
simplicity  of  the  scripture  stjde.f  And  in  the  third,  I 
shall  do  little  more  than  transcribe  from  an  elegant, 
penetrating  and  instructive  moralist  of  our  own  age 
and  country. J     To  ret'jm  : 

\^  we  collect  the  several  circumstances  of  this  won- 
derful piece  of  history,  it  will  readily  be  acknowledged, 
that  there  is  here  presented  to  the  mind  one  of  the 
greatest,  or  rather  a  series  of  the  greatest  miracles, 
which  the  hand  of  Omnipotence  ever  wrought  in  be- 
half of  any  nation.  It  is  not  therefore  to  be  wonder- 
ed at  if  the  enemies  of  revelation  have  endeavoured 
to  sidly  their  lustre,  and  impeach  their  credibility. 

Three  methods  have  been  employed  for  this  pur- 
pose....To  ascribe  these  events  to  natural  causes. ...To 
put  them  on  a  tooting  with  others  related  in  profiane 
history,  and  to  represent  them  as  contradictory  and 
-inconsitent.  Three  bulwarks  of  infidelity  ;  as  many 
grounds  of  triumph  for  truth. 

Tom.  i.  Disc.  xlix.         f  RoUin    Bel.  Let.  Tom.  ii.  Eloq. 
de  Liv.  Sacr.  f  Johnson's  Life  of  the  poet  Waller. 


144  HISTORY  OF  MOSES,  XJSCT.    XI. 

First,  these  events,  which  we  ascribe  entirely  to  the 
almighty  power  of  God,  have  been  accounted  for  from 
the  common  and  natural  operation  of  cause  and  effect. 
Eusebius  has  preserved  and  transmitted  to  us  a  frag- 
ment frou)  an  ancient  author,  Artapanes,*  to  this 
purpose  :  ''  Those  of  Memphis,  one  of  the  chief  cities 
of  ancient  Egypt,  allege,  that  Moses  perfectly  under- 
stood the  country ;  liiat  he  had  accurately  observed 
the  ebbing  and  flowing  of  the  sea,  and  took  advantage 
of  the  retreat  of  the  tide  to  lead  the  people  over.  But 
they  of  Heliopolis  relate  the  matter  differently,  saying, 
that  wliile  the  king  was  pursuing  the  Israelites,  Moses, 
by  the  command  of  Heaven,  struck  the  waters  with  a 
rod,  upon  which  tliey  immediately  separated,  and  left 
a  spacious  and  sale  passage  for  that  great  multitude  ; 
and,  that  the  Egyptians  attempting  to  follow  them  the 
same  way,  were  dazzled  and  contbunded  by  preter- 
natural fires,  lost  their  way,  and  by  the  reflux  of  the 
sea,  were  overtaken  in  the  midst  of  the  channel,  and 
thus  all  perished  either  by  water  or  by  fire." 

Now,  granting  to  this  quotation  all  the  force  that 
unbelief  can  give  it,  this  evidently  appears  upon  the 
face  of  it,  that  Moses  has  vouchers  of  his  divine  lega- 
tion, even  in  Egypt,  even  among  the  idolaters  them- 
selves. If  the  Memphites  accuse  our  historian  of  en- 
deavoring to  make  a  natural  pass  for  a  miraculous 
event,  the  Heliopolitans  acknowledge  that  it  was  pre- 
ternatural, and  ascribe  it  to  an  immediate  interposition 
of  Heaven.  And  this  concession  is  important,  when 
we  consider  that  it  comes  from  the  mouth  of  an  enemy. 

Again,  the  supposition  of  the  Memphites  must  be 
rejected  by  all  those  who  pay  any  regard  to  the  autho- 
rity of  Moses,  and  of  the  other  sacred  writers.  He 
himself  indeed  admits,  that  the  effect  was  forwarded 
by  the  assistance  of  a  strong  east  wind.  And  what- 
ever he  ascribes  to  that,  may  seem  so  far  to  derogate 
from  the  greatness  of  the  miracle.     But  it  is  no  less 

*  Euseb.  Prepui'.  Lib.  ix.  Cap.  xxvii. 


LECr.    XI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSEJS  145 

true,  tliat  he  throw.s  out  nothing  like  im  insinuation 
that  the  passage  of  the  vast  host  of  Israel  was  pro- 
(hiced  by  the  intervention  of  second  causes.  And  all 
the  inspired  authors,  who,  after  liim,  have  mentioned 
it  or  alhided  to  it,  acknowledge  only  a  supernatural 
agency.  Thus  Joshua,  who  was  an  eye-witness  and  a 
party  deei)ly  concerned  in  the  event.  "  For  the  Lord 
your  God  dried  u{)  the  waters  of  Jordan  from  before 
you,  until  ye  were  passed  over,  as  the  Lord  your  God. 
did  to  the  \^e(i  Sea,  which  he  dried  up  from  before  us, 
until  we  were  gone  over:  that  all  the  people  of  the 
earth  might  know  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  that  it  is 
mighty :  that  ye  might  fear  the  Lord  your  God  for- 
ever," Josh.  iv.  23,  i24.  Thus,  Psalm  Ixvi.  6.  *'  He 
turned  the  sea  into  dry  land  :  they  went  through  the 
flood  on  toot;  there  did  we  rejoice  in  him."  And 
jxxviii.  13.  "  He  divided  the  sea,  and  caused  thein. 
to  pass  through,  and  he  made  the  waters  to  stand  as 
an  heap."  And  cvi.  9-  "  He  rebuked  the  Red  Sea 
also,  and  it  was  dried  up  :  so  he  led  them  through  the 
depths  as  through  the  wilderness."  And  Heb.  xi.  29. 
"  By  faith  they  passed  through  the  Red  Sea  as  by  dry 
land  :  which  the  Egyptians  assaying  to  do  were  drown- 
ed." So  that  Moses,  Joshua,  David,  and  Paul,  have 
but  one  and  the  same  opinion  on  this  subject. 

But  farther,  the  essence  of  a  miracle  does  not  al- 
ways consist  in  counteracting  or  suspending  the  laws 
of  nature.  One  of  the  most  contemptible  of  the  ad- 
versaries of  religion  has  weakly  imagined,*  that  by  a 
single  objection  he  was  able  to  invalidate  one  of  the 
bulwarks,  and  shake  one  of  the  pillars  of  revelation. 
"  These  miraculous  effects,"  says  he,  "  are  referred, 
by  the  confession  of  scripture  historians  themselves,  to 
the  operation  of  second  causes.  It  was  by  warming 
the  body  of  a  child,  that  Elijah  brought  him  to  life 
again.     It  was  by  applying  clay,  or  dust  mingled  vvilU 

*  Spinosa   Tract.  Theol.  Folk.  Cap.  vi. 
VOL.    II.  T 


146  HISTORY  OF   MOSES.  LECT.    XI. 

spittle,  to  the  eyes  of  a  blind  man,  that  Jesus  Christ 
restored  him  to  sight.  It  was  by  a  wind,  that  Moses 
brought  locusts  upon  Egypt,  and  obtained  a  passage 
through  the  Red  Sea."  To  this  it  is  replied... That 
the  most  common  and  natural  things  become  miracles, 
w'.v  n  they  present  themselves  precisely  at  the  time 
and  in  the  manner  prescribed  by  Him  who  commands 
their  appearance,  for  the  confirmation  and  establish- 
ment of  a  certain  doctrine.  What  so  natural  and 
common,  for  example,  as  to  see  the  sun  shining  one 
moment  in  full  and  unobstructed  glory,  and  tlie  next 
darkened  and  concealed  by  clouds  ?  But,  if  a  person 
publishing  a  new  doctrine  as  divine,  should  undertake 
to  prove  his  mission  by  changing  the  appearance  of 
thebright  orbof  day,at  his  pleasure,  andby  shewing  him 
either  in  unclouded  majesty,  or  echpsed  and  shorn  of 
his  beams,  according  as  he  gave  the  word;  and  should 
we  behold  this  very  ordinary  natural  phenomenon  actu- 
ally and  uniformly  obeying  the  mandate,  would  not 
such  an  event,  however  natural  in  itself,  become  pre- 
ternalural  and  miraculous  from  its  circumstances  ? 
Thus,  there  might  be  occasion  for  the  influence  of  the 
wind,  to  favor  and  facilitate  the  passage  of  Israel.  But 
how  was  it  possible  for  their  leader,  by  mere  human 
sagacit}',  to  discover  that  a  wind  from  such  a  quarter, 
springing  up  exactly  at  such  an  hour,  should  harden 
the  bottom  of  the  deep  ? 

But,  supposing  the  philosophy  of  Moses  sufTiciently 
accurate  to  assure  him,  that  at  such  a  time  he  might  in 
safety  march  over  his  cumbersome  retinue ;  could  it 
inform  him  also  that  Pliaraoh  and  his  captains  would 
certainly  be  mad  enough  to  follow  them  through  that 
dangerous  route  ?  Could  it  assure  him  that  the  rashness 
of"  the  tyrant,  and  the  law  which  regulated  the  flowing 
of  the  sea,  would  exactly  keep  time,  so  as  effectually 
to  produce  the  destruction  of  his  whole  army  ?  The 
flux  and  reflux  of  the  tide  v/ere  known  to  Moses ; 
but,  was  it  entirely  unknown  to  the  Egyptians  ?  What, 


I 


LECT.  XI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  14? 

in  so  great- an  army,  led  by  the  sovereign  in  person,  in 
a  land  renowned  lor  naturnl  knowledge,  was  there  no 
man  astronomer  enongh  to  know,  that  the  ditVerencc 
of  a  iew  hours  is  every  thing  in  a  ease  ot"  this  sort; 
that  to  be  in  such  a  spot,  at  such  a  time,  was  inevitable 
destruction  ?  Incredible  !  impossible  ! 

Finally,  it  is  aliogether  inconceivable  thjit  the  space 
of  three  or  lour  hours,  the  utmost  that  an  ebb  merely 
natural  could  have  afforded  them,  was  sufficient  for 
the  transition  of  such  an  astonishing  multitude  as  that 
%vhich  Aloses  conducted.  The  learned  Calmet  has  so 
fully  demonstrated  this  point,*  as  to  enforce  the  con- 
clusion, that  no  degree  of  human  knowledge  could 
have  disclosed  to  Moses  a  foresight  of  the  events  which 
proved  so  propitious  to  him.  Not  therefore  to  the  su- 
})eriority  of  genius,  but  to  a  powe>*  divine,  the  praise 
is  to  be  ascribed.  And  to  the  same  principle  we  must 
recur  in  order  to  explain  the  mighty  diiference  which 
Providence  puts  between  the  Israelites  and  the  Egyp- 
tians, in  the  midst  of  the  Red  Sea. 

Attempts  have  been  made  to  debase  the  dignity  of 
this  great  event,  by  reducing  it  to  the  level  of  similar 
appearances  recorded  by  profane  historfans.  That  de- 
generate son  of  Israel,  J(jsephus,  first  started  this  ob- 
jection. These  are  his  words;  "This,"  speaking  of 
the  passage  of  the  Red  Sea,  '•  I  have  related  with  all 
the  circumstances,  as  I  find  them  in  our  sacred  authors. 
Nobody  ought  to  think  it  an  incredible  thing,  that  a 
people  which  lived  in  the  innocence  and  simplicity  of 
the  tirst  ages,  might  have  foirnd  a  way  through  the  sea 
to  save  themselves.  Vv  hetlier  it  was  that  the  sea  itself 
opened  it  for  them,  or  whether  it  was  done  by  the  will 
of  God  :  since  the  same  thing  happened  long  after  to 
the  Macedonians,  when  they  passed  through  the  sea 
of  Pamphylia,  under  the  conduct  of  Alexander,  when 
God  thought  fit  to  make  use  of  that  people  for  the  dt>> 

*  Dissert,  sur  Ic  passage  de  la  Mer  Rouge. 


14§  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XI. 

struction  of  the  Persian  empire,  as  it  is  affirmed  by  all 
the  historians  who  have  written  the  Hfe  of  that  prince. 
However,  I  leave  all  men  to  judge  of  this  matter  as 
Ihey  think  fit,"     Thus  far  Josephus.* 

The  other  instances  which  some  presume  to  be  put 
in  competition  with  this,  are  the  approach  of  Scipio 
with  his  army  to  tlie  attack  of  Kew  Carthage,  by 
meauis  of  an  extraordinary  ebb  at  the  change  of  the 
niooii,  recorded  by  Livy  r\  a  similar  ebb  of  the  river 
Euphrates,  related  by  Plutarch,  in  his  life  of  LucuUus; 
and,  a  Hood  altogether  as  singular,  upon  the  coast  of 
Holland,  in  the  year  1672;  which  kept  up  for  twelve 
whole  hours,  and  was  apparently  the  means  of  preserv- 
ing that  republic  from  the  consequences  of  a  joint  at- 
tack of  the  fleets  of  England  and  France.  It  is  hanci- 
ed  down  to  us  in  the  life  of  the  famous  admiral  De 
Ruyter,  who  had  the  command  of  the  Dutch  squadron 
at  that  time.  Neither  your  time  nor  patience  admit- 
ting of  an  inquiry  into  the  truth  of  these  several  facts, 
we  satisfy  ourselves  with  observing,  that  admitting 
them  to  be  true,  not  one  of  them  is  any  way  worthy 
to  be  compared  with  the  Mosaic  account  of  the  passage 
across  the  Red  Sea.  The  pointed  and  particular  pre- 
diction of  Moses ;  the  rod  emploj^ed,  and  the  instant- 
aneousness  of  the  effect ;  the  facility  and  speed  of  the 
passage;  the  rashness  of  the  Egyptians;  their  tragical 
end ;  every  thing  in  short  concurs  to  render  this  an 
unparalleled  event.  And  nothing  but  an  immoderate 
desire  of  depreciating  the  miracles  of  the  sacred  history, 
could  have  attempted  to  diminish  this  celebrated  tran- 
sit into  a  comparison  with  any  of  the  other  events 
which  are  alluded  to. 

The  third  objection  is,  to  the  truth  of  the  history ; 
pretended  to  be  taken  from  the  history  itself.  The 
time  allotted  by  Moses,  by  his  own  account,  for  the 
congregation,  consisting  of  so  many  myriads,  to  pass 

*  Anliq.  Jud.  I-iib.  ii.  Cap.  rii.          t  Li^  xvi.  Cap.  xlv. 


LECT.  XI.  lIlSruRY  OF  MOSES.  1  J  9 

over,  is  considered  by  the  objectors  as  iuirIj  too  short 
for  the  purpose.  But  in  order  to  support  it,  they  aie 
obhged  to  '^o  into  uncertain,  iaiicii'ul  and  uiiisupporled 
conjectures",  about  the  breadth  oi"  tlic  ived  Sea  at  the 
place  wliere  the  passage  was  ojjeued.  They  make  the 
])readth  of  that  passage  just  what  it  suits  their  own  ar- 
bitrary conjeclure  and  cah,'ulatiun.  They  nnia;  needs 
constrain  a  great  multitude,  in  very  pecuhar  circuu:- 
stances,  unaccustomed  to  discipline,  stimulated  by  Icar, 
and  borne  on  the  wings  of  ho[)e,  to  move  v/ith  tl-.e 
leisure  and  deliberation  of  a  regular  army.  They  will 
not  deign  to  acknowledge  the  power  and  grace  of  the 
Alost  High  in  every  part  of  the  transaction.  They 
overlook  the  description  given  of  that  peofle.  Psalm 
cv.  37.  as  a  people  full  ofstrengtii  and  vigor,  and  "  not 
one  sicklv  among  them."  They  forget  what  God  him- 
self soon  after  says  of  them,  "  You  have  seen  what  [ 
did  unto  the  Egyptians,  and  hovi?  I  bare  you  on  eagle's 
wings,  and  brought  you  unto  myself."  Vv^f  conclade, 
that  as  the  case  taken  altogether  \vas  singular,  unpre- 
cedented, and  followed  by  nothing  like  it;  so  the  par- 
ticular circumstances  of  it  are  likewise  smgular  and 
unexampled,  and  will,  with  every  candid  jHison,  bear 
out  Moses,  the  sacred  historian,  against  the  charge  of 
being  inconsistent  with  himself 

We  proceed  to  the  second  object  which  we  propos- 
ed, namely,  to  point  out  a  ihw  of  the  more  striking 
beauties  of  the  sacred  song,  which  was  coniposed  and 
sung  in  grateful  acknouledgment  of  that  great  deliv- 
erance which  we  have  been  contemplating,  \Vhat 
will  undoubtedly  give  it  a  high  vstlue  in  the  estimation 
ol  many  is,  that  it  is  the  most  ancient  morsel  of  poetry 
which  the  world  is  in  possesson  of:  beingthree  thousand 
three  hundred  and  thirty-seven  years  old,  that  is,  six 
hundred  and  forty-seven  years  before  Homer,  the 
most  ancient  and  the  best  of  heathen  bards,  lived 
or  sung.  But  its  anti([uity  is  it»  slightest  excellency. 
The  general  turn  of  it  is  great,  the  thoughts  nobly 


150  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.         _,  LECT.  XI. 

simple,  the  style  sublime,  the  expression  strong,  the 
l^athos  sweet,  the  figures  natural  and  bold.  It  abounds 
throughout  with  images  which  at  once  strike,  warm, 
astonish  and  delight.  The  occasion  of  it  you  well 
know.  The  poet's  view  is  to  indulge  himself  in  trans-: 
ports  of  joy,  admiration  and  gratitude,  and  to  inspire 
the  people  with  the  same  sentiments.  Accordingly  he 
thus  impetuously  breaks  out. 

Verse  1.  "I  will  sing  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  hath 
triumphed  glcriously  :  the  horse  and  his  rider  hath  he 
thrown  into  the  sea."  Here  the  tremendous  majesty 
of  God  the  deliverer,  and  the  lively  gratitude  of  the 
people  saved,  the  leading  object  of  the  piece,  are  plac- 
ed instantly  and  powerfully  in  sight ;  and  they  are  ne- 
ver dropt  for  one  moment,  to  the  end.  /,  in  the  sin- 
gular number,  is  much  more  energetic  and  affecting 
than  zve  in  the  plural  would  have  been.  The  triumph 
of  Israel  over  the  Egyptians  did  not  resemble  the  usual 
triumphs  of  nation  over  nation  ;  where  the  individual 
is  overlooked  and  lost  in  the  general.  No;  every 
thing  here  is  peculiar  and  personal.  Every  Israelite 
for  himself  reflects  with  joy  on  his  own  chains  now  for- 
ever broken  in  pieces.  He  seems  to  exult  over  his 
own  tyrant-master  now  subdued  under  him,  and  hails 
his  personal  liberty  now  efi'ectually  secured.  For  it  is 
natural  to  the  heart  of  man,  in  extreme  danger,  to 
refer  every  thing  to  himself,  and  to  consider  himself  as" 
all  in  all.  *'  The  horse  and  his  rider  hath]  he  thrown 
into  the  sea:"  for  the  same  reason  the  hoj^se  is  much 
more  forcible  than  horses  would  have  been  ;  it  marks 
strongly  the  suddenness,  the  universality,  the  complete- 
ness of  the  destruction.  The  Egyptian  cavalry,  nu- 
merous, formidable,  covering  the  face  of  the  ground, 
is  represented  in  a  moment,  by  a  single  elTort,  at  one 
blow,  overthrown,  overwhelmed,  as  if  they  had  been 
but  ojie  horse  and  one  rider. 

Verse  2.     *'  Jehovah  is  n\y  strength  and  song^  and 
he  is  become  my  salvation  :  he  is  my  God,  and  I  will 


LECT.  Xr.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  IJI 

prepare  liim  an  habitation  ;  my  father's  God,  and  I 
will  exalt  him."  It  is  lawlul  to  say,  that  the  poet  em- 
ploys tlie  most  exquisite  art,  in  representing  this  great 
deliveranee,  in  every  part  and  every  view  ol'it,  as  tlie 
work  of  JhHovAH  :  the  great  '*  1  am  ihat  I  am:" 
tliat  name  ol"  God,  by  vvh;(;h  he  ehose  to  be  known  to 
Israel  through  the  whole  of  those  memorable  transac- 
t ions  ?  My  strength,  that  is,  the  souree  or  eause  of 
mv  strength  :  and  it  points  out  the  great  God  as  the 
courage  and  force  of  Israel,  without  the  necessity  of 
tlicir  exerting  any  of  their  own.  "  My  song,"  that  is, 
tljc  subject  of  it.  No  instrument  divides  the  praise 
with  him.  No  power,  no  wisdom  is  employed  but  his 
own.  He  planned,  arranged,  executed  every  thing  by 
himself.  "  FIh  is  become  my  salvation."  The  Gne 
writers  of  Greece  or  Rome  would  probably  have  said. 
*'  He  hath  saved  me."  But  Moses  says  much  more  , 
The  Lord  hath  undertaken  himself  to  work  dchver- 
ance  for  me  :  he  hath  made  my  salvation  his  own,  his 
personal  concern,  and  is  become  to  me  every  thing  I 
can  want. 

" //<?  is  MY  God."  Every  word  is  emphalical. 
"  He,"  in  opposition  to  the  gods  of  Egypt,  which  can- 
not hear,  nor  see,  nor  save.  "  My  God  :"  all  attentive 
to  my  interest  and  safety,  as  if  he  had  no  creature  but 
mc  to  take  care  for :  and  therefore  my  God  :  for  I  ac- 
knowledge not,  I  never  will  acknowledge,  any  other. 
"  My  father's  God."  This  repetition  is  most  beauti- 
fully tender  and  pathetic.  He  whose  greatness  I  adore, 
is  not  a  strange  God,  unknown  till  now  ;  a  protector 
for  a  moment.  No,  he  is  the  ancient  patron  of  my  fa- 
mily, his  goodness  is  from  generation  to  generation.  I 
have  a  thousand  domestic  proofs  of  his  constant,  undi- 
minished affection  ;  and  he  is  now  making  good  to  me 
only  that  which  he  solemnly  promised  to  my  forefa- 
thers.    And  how  has  he  effected  this  ^ 

"  The  Lord  is  a  man  of  zvar." 

An  ordinary  writer  would  probably  have  represented 


152  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    XI, 

the  Almighty  here  as  the  God  of  armies  ;  and  as  such, 
discomfiting  the  host  of  Pharaoh.  But  Moses  does 
more  ;  he  brings  him  forth  as  a  champion,  a  soldier  ; 
puts  the  sword  into  his  hand,  and  exhibits  him  fighting 
his  battles,  the  battles  of  Israel. 

The  fourth  and  fifth  verses  contain  a  very  fine  dis- 
play and  amplification  of  the  simple  idea  suggested  in 
the  first,  "  the  horse  and  his  ride7\" 

"  Pharaoh's  chariots  and  his  host  hath  he  cast  into 
the  sea  :  his  chosen  captains  are  also  drowned  in  the 
Red  Sea,  the  depths  have  covered  them,  they  sank 
into  the  bottom  as  a  stone,"  Image  rises  and  swells 
above  image,  Pharaoh's  chariots,  his  hosts,  his  chosen 
captains. ...cast  into  the  sea,  drowned  in  the  Red  Sea.... 
covered  with  the  depths,  sunk  to  the  bottom,  at  once, 
as  a  stone.  Notwithstanding  their  pride  and  insolence, 
they  can  make  no  more  resistance  to  the  power  of  Je- 
hovah, than  a  stone  launched  from  the  armof  a  strong 
man  into  the  flood. 

Every  writer  but  a  Moses  must  have  stopped  short 
here;  or  flattered  his  subject,  by  repeating  or  extend- 
ing the  same  ideas.  But  the  seraphic  poet,  upborne 
by  an  imagination  which  overleaps  the  boundaries  of 
the  world,  and  an  enthusiasm  which  cannot  rest  in  any 
creature,  springs  up  to  the  Creator  himself,  in  these 
rapturous  strains : 

"  Thy  right  hand,  O  Lord,  is  become  glorious  in 
thy  power :  thy  right  hand,  O  Lord,  hath  dashed  in 
pieces  the  enemy.  In  the  greatness  of  thine  excellency 
thou  hast  overthrown  them  that  rose  up  against  thee." 

When  the  heart  is  full  of  an  object,  it  turns  it  round, 
as  it  were,  on  every  side,  returns  to  it  again  and  again  ; 
never  tires  in  contemplating  it,  till  admiration  is  lost 
in  astonishment.  Moses  after  this  effusion  of  joy  and 
praise  returns  again  to  the  matter  of  fact :  but  not  in 
the  language  of  mere  description,  as  in  the  4th  verse; 
but  in  a  continuation  of  his  bold,  animated  address  to 
God  himself;  which  gives  it  a  life  and  fervor  superior 


LECT.  XI.  HISTORY  OE  MCSES.  153 

to  any  thing  human.  As  if  the  strength  of  one  ele- 
ment had  not  btcn  suHicient  lo  destroy  God's  ene- 
mies, every  clement  lends  its  aid.  The  deep  onens 
its  mouth,  the  fire  consumes,  tlie  wind  rages;  all  na- 
ture is  up  in  arms,  to  avenge  the  quarrel  of  an  incens- 
ed God.  riie  |)oet  ennobles  the  wind,  by  making 
God  the  principle  of  it ;  and  animates  the  fire,  by 
making  it  susceptible  of  fiear.  In  the  same  st}  le  of 
address  to  God,  he  thiows  himself  as  it  were  into  the 
person  and  character  of  the  enemy,  previous  to  th.eir 
defeat,  and  pours  forth  their  sentiments  of  thrta;ening 
and  slaughter  ;  the  more  strongly  to  mark  their  disap- 
pointment, by  contrasting  the  lolly  and  impotence  of 
man,  with  the  power  and  justice  of  God.  "  The  ene- 
my said,  I  will  pursue,  I  will  overtake,  1  will  divide 
the  spoil :  my  lust  shall  be  satisfied  upon  them  ;  I  will 
draw  my  sword,  mv  hand  shall  destrov  them."  You 
see  here  vengeance  hastening  to  its  object,  regardless 
of  opposition.  The  words,  unconnected  with  a  con- 
junction, seem  to  hurry  on  like  the  passion  that  prompts 
to  them.  And  in  what  does  it  issue  P  "  Thuu  didst 
blow  with  thy  wind,  the  sea  covered  them."  And  the 
picture  is  finished  with  this  happy  stroke,  '*  They  sank 
as  lead  in  the  mighty  waters." 

But  1  feel  I  have  undertaken  a  task  far  beyoiid  my 
ability,  and  the  limits  of  your  time.  And  therefore 
break  ofli"  with  another  borrowed  remark,  namely,  that 
whatever  grandeur  and  magnificence  we  may  discover 
in  this  song,  as  it  stands  in  such  a  place  and  connexion, 
its  beauty  and  force  must  greatly  rise  upon  ns,  were 
we  permitted  to  penetrate  through  the  mysterious 
sense  concealed  behind  the  veil  of  this  great  event. 
For  it  is  certain,  that  this  deliverance  from  Egypt  cov- 
ers and  represents  salvation  of  a  superior  and  more 
extensive  nature.  The  apostle  of  the  Gentiles  teaches 
us  to  consider  it  as  a  type  of  that  freedom  which  the? 
christian  obtains  by  the  waters  of  baptism,  and  the 
renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  from  the  yoke  of  the 

VOL.  11,  u 


154  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XI, 

prince  of  this  world.  And  the  prophet,  in  the  book 
of*  Revelation,  makes  it  to  shadow  forth  the  final  and 
great  deliverance  of  the  redeemed,  b_y  introducing  the 
assembly  of  those  who  have  overcome  the  beast,  hold- 
ing the  harps  of  God  in  their  hands,  and  singing  "  the 
song  of  Moses,  the  servant  of  God,  and  the  song  of 
the  Lamb,  saying.  Great  and  marvellous  are  thy 
works.  Lord  God  Almighty  ;  just  and  true  are  thy 
ways,  thou  King  of  saints  !  Who  shall  not  fear  thee, 
O  Lord,  and  glorify  thy  name  ?  For  thou  only  art 
holy  ;  for  all  nations  shall  come  and  worship  before 
thee ;  for  thy  judgments  are  made  manifest,"  Rev. 
:^v.  3,  4.  Now,  as  the  scriptures  declare  that  the  won- 
ders of  this  second  deliverance  shall  infinitely  surpass 
the  first,  and  shall  entirely  obliterate  the  remembrance 
of  it  ;  we  may  easily  believe  that  the  beauties  of  the 
spiritual  sense  of  this  divine  poem  may  totally  eclipse 
those  of  the  historical. 

Having  endeavored  imperfectly  to  unfold  some  of 
the  excellencies  of  this  ancient  sacred  composition,  I 
t^liould  proceed,  as  1  proposed,  to  point  out  the  deli- 
cacy of  attempting,  and  the  difficulty  of  succeeding, 
in  imitating  or  extending  devotional  poetry  ;  but  your 
time  and  patience,  perhaps,  will  be  better  employed  in 
hearing  me  read  to  you  a  short  passage,  containhig  the 
sentiments  of  an  excellent  modern  critic*  on  the  sub- 
ject 3  with  which  I  shall  conclude  this  exercise. 

**  Jt  has  been  the  frequent  lamentation  of  good 
men,  that  verse  has  been  too  little  applied  to  the  pur- 
poses of  worship  ;  and  many  attempts  have  been  made 
to  aniinate  devotion  by  pious  poetry.  That  they  have 
very  .'?eldom  attained  their  (end  is  sufficiently  known; 
and  it  may  not  be  impropeK  to  inquire  why  they  have 
mirtcarried. 

"  Let  no  pious  ear  be  offended,  if  I  advance,  in  op- 
po.sition  to  many  authorities,  that  poetical  devotioa 

•  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson. 


LECf.   XI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  155 

cannot  often  please.  The  doctrines  of  religion  may, 
indeed,  be  defended  in  a  didactic  poem  ;  and  he  who 
has  the  happy  power  of  arguing  in  verse,  will  not  lose 
it  because  his  subject  is  sacred.  A  poet  may  describe 
the  beauty  and  grandeur  of  nature,  the  flower  of 
sprinr:,  and  the  liarvests  of  autumn,  the  vicissitudes 
of  the  tide,  and  the  revqhitions  of  the  sky,  and  praise 
the  Maker  for  his  works,  in  lines  which  no  reader 
shall  lay  aside.  The  subject  of  the  disputation  is  not 
piety,  but  tite  motives  to  piety  ;  that  of  the  descrip- 
tion is  not  God,  but  the  works  of  God. 

*'  Contemplative  piety,  or  the  intercourse  between 
God  and  the  human  soul,  cannot  be  poetical.  Man 
admitted  to  implore  the  mercy  of  his  Creator,  and 
plead  the  merits  of  bis  Redeemer,  is  already  in  a 
higher  state  than  poetry  can  confer. 

''  The  essence  of  poetry  is  invention  ;  such  inven- 
tion as,  by  producing  something  unexpected,  surprises 
and  delights.  The  topics  of  devotion  are  few,  and 
being  few  are  universally  known  ;  but  i'ew  as  they  are, 
they  can  be  made  no  more  ;  they  can  receive  no  grace 
from  novelty  of  sentiment,  and  very  little  from  novelty 
of  expression. 

*'  Poetry  pleases  by  exhibiting  an  idea  more  grate- 
ful to  the  mind  than  things  themselves  afford.  This 
effect  proceeds  from  the  diirjplay  of  those  parts  of  na- 
ture which  attract,  and  the  cojicealment  of  those  which 
repel  the  imagination  ;  buit  religion  must  h\i  shewn  as 
it  is  ;  suppression  and  addition  equally  corrupt  it  -, 
and  such  as  it  is,  it  is  known  already. 

"  From  poetry  the  reader  justly  expects,  and  from 
good  poetry  always  obtains,  the  enlargement  of  his 
comprehension,  and  elevation  of  his  fancy  ;  but  this  is 
rarely  to  be  hoped  for  by  christians  from  metrical  de- 
votion. Whatever  is  great,  desirable  or  tremendous, 
is  comprised  in  the  name  of  the  Supreme  Ueing.  Om- 
nipotence cannot  be  exalted  ,  infinity  cannot  be  am- 
plified J  perfection  cannot    be  improved. 


156  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XI. 

"  The  employments  of  pious  meditation  are  faith, 
thanksgiving,  repentance  and  supphcation.  Faith,  in- 
variably uniform,  cannot  be  invested  by  fancy  with  de- 
corations. Thanksgiving,  the  aiost  joyful  of  all  holy 
effusions,  yet  addressed  to  a  being  without  passions, 
IS  confined  to  a  lew  modes,  and  is  to  be  felt  rather  than 
expressed.  Repentance  trembling  in  the  presence  of 
the  judge,  is  not  at  leisure  for  cadences  and  epithets. 
Supplication  of  man  to  man  may  dilTuse  itself  through 
many  topics  of  persuasion,  but  supplication  to  God 
can  only  cry  for  mercy. 

"  Of  sentiments  purely  religious,  it  will  be  found 
that  the  most  simple  expression  is  the  most  sublime. 
Poetry  loses  its  lustre  and  its  power,  because  it  is  ap- 
plied to  the  decoration  of  something  more  excellent 
than  itself  AH  that  verse  can  do  is  to  help  the  mem- 
ory and  delight  the  ear  j  and  for  these  purposes  it  may 
be  very  useful ;  but  it  supplies  nothing  to  the  mind. 
The  ideas  of  christian  theology  are  too  simple  for  elo- 
quence, too  sacred  for  fiction,  and  too  majestic  for 
ornament ;  to  recommend  them  by  tropes  and  figures, 
is  to  magnify  by  a  concave  mirror  the  sideral  hemis- 
phere." 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  XII. 

Jfid  when  they  came  to  Marah,  tlicy  could  not  drink  of 
the  waters  of  Marah  ;  for  tJiey  icere  bitter  :  there- 
fore the  name  of  it  zvas  called  Marah.  And  the  peo- 
ple murmured  against  Moses,  saying.  What  shall  we 
drink  ?  And  he  cried  unto  the  Lord  >•  and  the  Lord 
shelved  him  a  tree,  which  when  he  had  cast  into  the 
waters,  the  waters  icere  made  sweet :  there  he  made 
for  them  a  statute  and  an  ordinance,  and  there  lie 
proved  them,  and  said.  If  thou  wilt  diligently  heark- 
en to  the  voice  of  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  will  do  that 
which  is  right  in  his  sight,  and  xcill  give  ear  to  his 
commandments,  and  keep  all  his  siafufes  s  J  ic ill  put 
none  of  these  diseases  upon  thee  ivhich  I  have  brought 
-upon  the  Egyptians  :  for  I  am  the  Lord  thai  healeth 
thee.  A?id  they  came  to  Elim,  ivhere  zcej'e  twelve 
wells  of  water,  and  three  score  and  ten  palm-trees  ; 
and  they  encamped  there  by  the  ivaters.. ..Kkodus  xv. 
23.. .27. 

T  TNLESS  the  mind  be  under  the  regulating  power 
^^  of  religion,  it  will  be  perpetually  losing  its  ba- 
lance, and  changing  its  tenor  :  at  one  time  accelerat- 
ed into  indecent  and  dangerous  speed,  through  the  im- 
pulse of  desire,  ambition  or  revenge;  at  another  it  is 
chilled  into  languor  and  inaction,  through  fear,  des- 
pondency and  disappointment.  We  shall  behold  the 
same  person  now  behoving  things  incrr.'dihle,  and  at- 
tempting things  impracticable  ;  and  anon  staggering 
at   the  shadow  of  a   doubt,  and  shrinking   from    the 


158  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  Xll. 

slightest  appearance  of  difficulty  and  danger.  Inso- 
lent, fierce  and  overbearing  in  prosperity,  the  unsteady 
creature  becomes  grovelling,  dispirited,  and  mean  in 
adversity.  "  It  is  a  good  thing,"  therefore,  "  that 
the  heart  be  established  by  grace:"  grace,  that  calm, 
stead}',  uniform  principle,  which  veers  not  with  every 
wind  of  doctrine ;  rises  not,  nor  falls,  like  the  Mer- 
cury in  the  tube,  with  every  variation  of  the  atmos- 
phere, according  to  the  alternate  transition  of  disap- 
jiointment  and  success,  censure  and  applause,  health 
and  sickness,  youth  and  age.  In  the  day  of  prosperi- 
ty, religion  saith  to  the  soul  where  it  dwells, "  Re- 
joice," and  in  the  day  of  adversity,  "  Consider  :"  for 
a  wise  and  a  mercifuKGod  hath  set  the  one  over  against 
the  other.  This  divine  principle  corrects  immoderate 
joy,  saying  to  the  happy,  "  Be  not  high  minded,  but 
fear  j"  it  consoles  and  supports  the  miserable,  by 
breathing  the  sweet  assurance,  that  the  "  light  afflic- 
tion, which  is  but  for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  afar  more 
exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory,"  2  Cor.  iv.  I7. 
The  want  of  this  balance  of  the  soul,  and  the  dan- 
gerous consequences  of  that  want,  are  strikingly  ex- 
emplified in  the  history  of  the  chosen  people,  whom 
Providence  by  a  series  of  miracles  undertook  to  con- 
duct from  Egypt  to  Canaan.  Elated  or  depressed  by 
the  aspect  of  the  moment,  we  find  them  haughty  in 
the  hour  of  victory,  and  sunk  into  despair  by  a  defeat. 
The  deepness  of  the  waters  of  the  Red  Sea,  and  their 
miraculous  separation, afford  matter  of  triumph  to-day  ; 
the  bitterness  of  the  waters  of  Marah  causes  universal 
discontent  and  dejection  to-morrow.  But  alas !  we 
need  not  recur  to  distant  periods  of  history  for  an  ex- 
ample of  the  ruinous  effects  produced  by  a  destitution 
of  religious  principle,  and  of  the  fatal  power  of  unbe- 
lief. The  history  of  every  man's  own  experience  is 
Ilustration  sufficient.  To  what  must  we  ascribe  the 
envy,  jealousy,  rage,  pride,  resentment,  timidity, 
diffidence  and  dejection,  which  fuccessively  andunie- 


LECr.    XII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  159 

niittingly  agitate  the  human  mind  ?  Men  walk  by 
sight,  not  by  faith.  1  hey  fet'l  the  powers  of  the 
wurkl  that  is,  and  are  msenible  ot  tiiat  whicli  is  to 
come.  They  look  at  ''  tl)ings  temporal,"  and  neglcet 
those  *'  which  are  unseen  and  eternal."  Tliey  stand 
in  awe  of  the  creature,  and  despise  the  Creator. 
While  then  we  discover,  deplore  and  condemn  a  sel- 
fish, a  perverse  and  discontented  spirit,  and  an  unbe- 
lieving heart,  in  others,  let  us  study,  by  the  grace  of 
God  ,  to  reform  the  same  or  like  dispositions  in  our- 
selves. 

Wliat  a  magnificent  concert  filled  the  shores  of  the 
Red  Sea,  after  Israel  was  passed  over  !  Every  thing 
was  suited  to  anotlier.  The  words  were  adapted  to 
the  occasion,  the  music  to  the  words,  the  performers  to 
the  music.  There  Moses,  leading  the  bolder,  rougher 
notes  of  manly  voices  ;  here  Miriam  the  prophetess, 
his  sister,  m  sweet  accord,  blending  the  softer  harmo- 
ny of  the  female  strains  with  the  notes  of  the  timbrel, 
in  praise  of  their  great  Deliverer.  Never  surely  did 
such  music  strike  the  vault  of  Heaven,  and  never  shall 
again,  "  till  the  ransomed  of  the  Lord  shall  return, 
and  come  to  Zion  with  songs,  and  everlasting  joy  upon 
their  heads  ;  when  they  shall  obtain  joy  and  gladness, 
and  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee  away  :"  Isa.  xxxv. 
10. ..never  till  the  song  of  Moses  be  closed  with  the 
song  of  the  Lamb. 

At  length  they  quit  the  scene  of  their  terror  and  of 
their  triumph  ;  for  the  world  admits  not  of  a  long  con- 
tinuance of  either;  and  they  advance  three  days 
march  into  the  wilderness.  Escaped  effectually  and 
forever  from  the  oppression  of  Egypt,  no  more  oppos- 
ed in  front  by  an  insurmountable  barrier,  nor  hemmed 
in  on  either  side  by  impassable  mountains,  nor  pursued 
by  a  numerous  and  well-disciplined  army  ;  but  the  sea, 
once  their  hindrance,  now  their  defence ;  every  foe 
subdued,  and  the  road  to  Canaan  strait  before  them, 
what  can  now  give  disturbance  r  On  how  many  cir- 


160  HISTORY  01^  MOSES.  LECT.  XU, 

cnmstances  does  life  and  the  comfort  of  it  depend  !  The 
failure  or  disagreeable  quality  of  one  ingredient  cor- 
rupts and  destroys  the  whole.  In  Shur  they  found  ?io 
water ;  in  Marah  they  find  water,  but  it  is  bitter.  The 
unavoidable  condition  of  a  wilderness  state !  Always 
too  little,  or  too  much  !  Here  there  are  children 
and  penury  ;  there  affluence  and  sterility.  Thisyear 
there  is  drought  parching  and  consuming  every  plant 
of  the  field  ;  the  next,  an  overflowing  flood  sweeping 
every  thing  before  it ;  and  unhappy  mortals  are  etern- 
ally augmenting  the  necessary  and  unavoidable  evils  of 
human  life,  by  peevishness  and  discontent. 

Oblige  an  ungrateful  person  ever  so  often,  and  dis- 
appoint or  oppose  him  once,  and  lo,  the  memory  of  a 
thousand  benefits  is  instanily'  lost.  All  that  Moses, 
all  that  God  has  done  for  Israel  is  forgotten,  the  mo- 
ment that  a  scarcity  of  water  is  felt.  For  it  is  with 
this  spirit  as  with  that  of  ambition  :  nothing  is  attain- 
ed in  the  eye  of  ambition,  while  there  is  yet  one  thing 
to  be  attained.  All  the  favor  of  Ahasuerus  avails  Ha- 
man  nothing,  while  Mordecai  the  Jew  sits  in  the  king's 
gate.  So  ingratitude  says  nothing  is  granted,  while 
one  thing  is  denied  me.  One  scanty  meal  in  Shur,  or 
one  unpalatable  beverage  at  Marah,  has  obliterated  all 
remembrance  of  the  recent  wonders  of  Egypt,  and 
the  more  recent  miracles  of  the  Red  Sea.  And  as  one 
evil  quality  is  ever  found  in  company  with  its  fellows, 
we  here  find  ingratitude  and  impiety  toward  God 
blended  with  unkindness  and  unreasonableness  toward 
man.  And  cowardice  pitifully  levels  its  keen  arrows 
at  the  servant,  nor  daring  to  attack  the  master.  "  The 
people  murmured  against  Moses."  A  v\orldly  mind 
luider  distress  either  flies  to  the  creature  lor  help,  or 
accuses  the  creature  as  the  cause  of  its  woe.  Piety 
leads  the  soul  directly  to  God  ;  it  views  the  calamity 
as  his  appointment ;  and  finds  its  removal,  its  remedy, 
or  its  compensation  in  the  divine  mercy.     Israel  tastes 


LECT.  XII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  lOl 

the  bitter  water ;  desponds,  and  charges  Moses  foolish- 
ly.     Moses  cries  to  God,  and  is  enhghtened. 

Observe  the  goodness  and  lon^^-sufiering  of  Cod. 
Readier  to  listen  to  the  entreaties  of  Moses  than  to 
punish  the  perverseness  and  unbelief  of  the  people,  he 
instantly  directs  to  a  cure  for  the  nitrous  quality  of  the 
waters  of  Marah.  "  The  Lord  shewed  liini  a  tree, 
which  when  he  had  cast  into  the  waters,  the  waters 
were  made  sweet." 

Of  htlle  consequence  is  it  to  inquire,  because  it 
is  impossible  to  deiermine,  whether  the  wood  of 
this  tree  had  in  it  an  inherent  virtue  which  naturally 
corrected  the  brackish  taste  of  the  water  j  or  whe- 
ther the  sweetening  quality  were  preternaturally 
communicated  to  it  to  fulhi  the  present  design  of 
Providence.  AVhether  I  see  water  sweetened  by 
a  log  of  wood  cast  into  it,  or  issuing  from  the  flinty 
rock,  or  flowing  naturally  in  the  brook  ;  whether  I  see 
Israel  fed  with  bread  from  Heaven,  or  Moses  and 
Christ  subsisting  forty  days  witliout  bread  at  all ;  or 
mankind  in  general  supported  by  bread  growing  gra- 
dually out  of  the  ground  ;  I  still  behold  but  one  and 
the  same  object ;  "  good  gifts  coming  down"  but  in 
so  many  diiierent  ways  *'  from  the  Fath'^r  of  lights." 
The  wise  man,  in  the  apocryphal  book  of  Ecclesiasticus, 
has  made  a  happy  use  of  this  passage,  to  inculcate  the 
necessity  of  using  appointed  means  in  order  to  obtain^ 
success.  The  Lord  (says  he)  hath  created  medicines 
out  of  the  earth,  and  he  that  is  wise  will  not  abhor 
them.  AVas  not  the  water  made  sweet  with  wood, 
that  the  virtue  thereof  might  be  known  ?  and  he  hath 
given  men  skill,  that  he  might  be  honored  in  his  mar- 
vellous works.  With  such  doth  he  heal  men,  and  tak- 
eth  away  their  pains.  Aly  son,  in  thy  sickness  be  not 
negligent ;  but  pray  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will  make 
thee  whole," 

A  fondness  for  allegory  has  represented  the  effect 
produced  by  this  tree  cast  into  the  waters,  as  emblema- 

YOL.    II.  X 


16^  HISTORY  OF   MOSES.  LECT.    XII. 

tical  of  the  virtue  of  the  cross,  in  sweetening  and  sancti- 
fying affliction  to  the  believer,  and  taking  the  sting  out 
of  death.  Undoubtedly,  when  an  object  so  important 
and  a  doctrine  so  instructive  can  by  whatever  means 
be  impressed  upon  the  heart,  we  ought  not  too  squeam- 
ishly to  reject  applications  and  illustrations  of  this  sort. 
In  order  to  promote  the  ends  of  true  piety,  what 
though  we  relax  a  little  of  the  laws  of  rigid  criticism  ^ 
If  imagination  serve  as  an  handmaid  to  virtue  and  de- 
votion, let  men  be  as  fanciful  as  they  will,  li  a  seri- 
ous soul  be  edified  or  comforted,  shall  I  mar  his  joy 
and  disturb  his  tran{}nillity  by  forcing  him  (0  compre- 
hend the  meaning  of  Greek  and  Hebrew  particles  } 
Whether  it  be  warrantable  or  not  to  give  this  evangeli- 
cal turn  to  the  passage  before  us,  its  moral  intention 
and  import  will  hardly  be  disputed.  It  exhibits  the  re- 
luctance which  men  feel  to  encounter  affliction,  their 
impatience  and  unreasonableness  under  it,  the  wise 
design  of  Providence  in  alilictive  dispensation,  namely, 
to  "  prove  men,  whether  they  will  diligently  hearken 
to  the  voice  of  the  Lord  their  God,  and  do  that  which 
is  right  in  his  sight."  And  finally,  it  illustrates  the 
power,  wisdom  and  goodness  of  God  in  counteracting 
one  natural  evil,  by  another  c\il ;  and  making  poison 
serve  as  an  antidote  to  poison,  and  healing  the  greater 
plague  of  sin  by  the  le^s,  that  of  suffering. 

Some  commentators  have  conjectured,  that  it  was 
alfout  this  very  spot  that  Magar  was  relieved  and  sup- 
plied with  water,  she  and  L  r  son,  by  the  angel  of  the 
Lord,  when  they  were  banished  iVoin  ^Vbral^am's  house; 
and  they  reprove  the  incredulity  of  the  Israelites  by 
the  example  of  her  faith.  After  all,  it  was  undoubted- 
ly a  very  severe  trial :  whether  we  consider  how  much 
water,  sweet  water,  is  couuecled,  not  merely  with  the 
convenience  and  comfort,  but  with  the  very  existence 
of  human  life ;  the  immense  quantity  necessary  ibr  the 
support  of  such  a  vast  multitude  of  men  and  women, 
besides  cattle  j  or  the  peculiar  demand  occasioned  by 


LF.CT.  XII.  HISTORY  OE  MOSES.  1G3 

a  vertical  sun  and  a  parched  soil.  We  pass  on  fron) 
Marali  as  men,  and  as  the  inhabitants  of  more  favored 
regions  j>raising  God,  "•  who  walks  upon  the  clouds," 
and  refreshes  us  from  Heaven  above  ;  gushes*  npon  us 
in  a  tlu)U5and  streams  of  limpid  comfort  from  the  earth 
beneath,  and  gciilly  flows  through  every  field  in  a  tide 
of  delight ;  and  as  christians  we  flee  for  refuge  and  re- 
freshment to  that  iconderfid  Man^  described  in  prophe- 
tic vision  in  such  beautiful  figures  as  these  ;  "  A  man 
shall  be  as  an  hiding  place  from  the  wind,  and  a  covert 
from  the  tempest :  as  rivers  of  waters  in  a  dry  place  ; 
as  the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary  land,"  Isaiah 
xxxii.  2.  Gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones,  are  pro- 
duced in  small  quantities,  and  are  of  difficult  and  dan- 
gerous investigation.  And  happily  the  life  of  man 
consists  not  in  such  things  as  these.  Whereas 
the  things  which  really  minister  to  human  comfort, 
and  constitute  the  real  support  of  human  life,  are  pour- 
ed down  upon  us  with  unbounded  profusion.  The 
choicest  blessing  which  ever  was  bestowed  upon  the 
world,  is  common  and  free  to  all  as  the  water  in  the 
stream,  as  the  light  and  air  of  heaven. 

But  though  the  bitter  waters  are  sweetened  for  pre- 
sent use,  Israel  must  not  think  of  continuing  encamp- 
ed by  them.  They  are  to  be  but  the  transient  refresh- 
ment of  the  way -faring  man,  not  the  stated  supply  of 
the  land  of  promise.  Whatever  we  have  attained, 
whatever  w^e  enjoy,  the  voice  of  Providence  still  sum- 
mons us  away,  saying,  "  Arise  ye  and  depart,  for  this 
is  not  your  rest." 

Their  next  journeying  is  from  Marah  to  Elim,  where 
were  twelve  wells  of  water,  and  three  score  and  ten 
palm-trees  J  and  they  encamped  there  by  the  waters." 
In  the  preceding  station,  their  provision  was  partly 
from  nature,  partly  from  the  kindness  of  a  gracioujj 
Providence.  Nature  furnished  the  substance,  a  mi- 
racle endowed  it  with  the  suitable  qualities.  But  at 
Elim,  nature  seems  to  do  I  he  whole,  with  her  '^  three- 


164  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XII. 

score  and  ten  pa]m-tress,  and  twelve  wells  of  water.'* 
And  what  is  nature,  but  the  great  Jehovah  performing 
the  most  astonishing  wonders  in  a  stated  and  regular 
course  ?  Water  issuing  from  a  rock  wiien  smitten  by  a 
rod,  is  not  in  itself  a  whit  more  miraculous  t!ian  the 
continually  supplying  one  little  stream  from  the  same 
^^p^ng.  Being  arrived  at  Elim,  they  encamped  ''  by 
the  waters."  The  word  '*  Elim"  standing  in  our  ver- 
sion untranslated,  is  generaily  considered  as  the  pro- 
per name  of  a  place  ;  but  it  is  by  some,  and  with  a 
great  appearance  of  reason,  rendered  "  the  forests." 
This  is  supported  by  a  passage  of  Strabo,*  the  famous 
geographer  and  historian  of  Capadocia,  to  this  pur- 
pose ;  that  '*  at  five  days  journey  from  Jericho  there  is 
a  forest  of  palm-trees,  v.'hich  is  held  in  great  veneration 
throughout  all  that  country,  on  account  of  the  springs 
of  water  which  are  foimd  there  in  great  abundance." 
The  numbers  tzvclve  and  scventij  in  the  sacred  text,  in- 
stead of  signifymg  a  determinate  quantity,  may  un- 
doubtedly denote  indefinitely  according  to  a  license 
commtiin  in  all  languages,  a  large  abundance.  And 
then  the  account  of  Strabo,  and  the  narration  of  Moses, 
will  mutually  confirm  and  strengthen  each  other. 
Two  writers  of  no  less  eminence,  and  credit  than  Ta- 
citusf  and  Plutarch, J  plainly  allude  to  this  passage, 
when  they  say  that  "  the  Jews,  being  ready  to  pensh 
with  thirst,  happily  discoveredspringsof  running  water." 

But,  instead  of  settling  the  greography  of  the  spot, 
and  the  import  of  the  word  Elim,  let  us  look  into  the 
fact  recorded,  and  through  it  into  the  volume  of  hu- 
man nature.  "  They  encamped  there  by  the  waters." 
The  self-asme  spirit  which  murmured  at  the  taste  of  a 
bitter  stream,  disposed  them  to  seek  repose  by  the  side 
of  one  that  was  sweet  and  placid.  Mistaken  in  both, 
a  carnal  mind  is  easily  unhinged  and  soon  satisfied. 
Tike  children  tliey  are  put  out  of  humor  with  a  strau-, 
and   prcsestly  pacified   they  know  not  why  ;  and  be- 

*Lib.  xvi.         t  Hist.  Liv.  v.         1  Tom  ii.  Sympos.   Lib.  iv. 


LECT.    XII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  l65 

hold  unbelief  lying  at  the  root  of  both  one  and  the 
other.  Now,  eager  to  get  home  before  the  time  ;  by 
and  by  drowning  all  thoughts  and  hopes  of  it  in  the 
bauble  of  (he  present  hour.  See  Israel  at  one  time 
disconcerted  and  chagrined  to  iind  that  the  wilderness 
did  not  produce  every  thing  to  a  wish;  at  another, 
ready  to  Ibrego  the  prospect  of  Canaan  for  Egypt,  and 
to  accept  the  land  of  dates  and  water  for  that  flowing 
with  milk  and  honey.  Never  did  any  good  come  of 
sitting  down  contentedly  in  temporal  possessions.  No 
sooner  do  men  become  easy  and  comfortable  in  their 
circumstances,  than  they  grow  capricious  and  fantasti- 
cal in  their  wishes  and  desires.  U  Providence  visit 
thein  not  with  sarcity  or  unpleasantness  of  water- 
their  own  restless  appetite  shall  visit  them  with  an  ab- 
surd and  unreasonable  craving  for  flesh.  The  fruit 
and  shade  of  the  palm-tree,  and  the  deliciousness  of  a 
fresh  spring,  please  not  long.  Put  an  end  to  novelty, 
and  farewell  delight.  But  a  month  and  fourteen  days 
have  elapsed,  since  with  so  much  joy  they  quitted  the 
house  of  bondage  :  and  they  are  weak  and  wicked 
enough  to  wish  themselves  thither  again.  And  why  ? 
because,  in  a  march  of  a  few  short  weeks  at  most, 
through  a  wild  and  desert  countrv,  thev  wallowed  not 
in  the  profusion  of  Egypt,  which  they  were  obliged  to 
purchase  at  the  price  of  their  liberty  and  blood. 

When  we  hear  of  such  an  universal  mutiny,  for  it 
was  not  the  murmuring  of  a  few  factious  discontented 
spirits,  but  of  the  whole  congregation  of  Israel,  what 
have  we  not  to  fear  from  the  just  resentment  of  a  holy 
and  righteous  God,  thus  insulted  by  mistrust  and  un- 
belief? We  find  him  immediately  taking  up  the  cause, 
and,  in  a  manner  peculiar  to  himself.  Wonder,  O 
heavens,  and  be  astonished,  O  earth.  "  And  the 
Lord  said  unto  M.  ses.  Behold  I  will  rain", ...what .? 
Fire  and  brimstone  fiom  heaven,  upon  this  generation 
of  incorrigible  rebels,  until  they  be  utterly  consumed  .? 
No  but,  "  I  wdl  rain  bread  from   heaven  upon  you." 


I6d  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  EECT.  Xil. 

Is  th  s  iby  manner  with  men,  O  Lord  God  ?  Surely, 
*'  it  is  of  thy  mercy  we  are  not  consumed,  because 
thy  compassions  fail  not." 

The  liistorical  fact  which  follows,  as  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  promise,  is  one  of  the  most  singular  upon 
record  ;  and  so  mixes  itself  with  the  leading  objects  of 
the  New  Te^tament  dispensation,  that  it  well  merits  a 
separate  and  particular  consideration. 

Joeing  arrived  at  another  of  the  great  epochas,  or 
periods  of  ancient  history,  the  going  out  of  Egypt ; 
we  shall  make  a  i)rief  recapitnlation  of  the  whole  from 
the  beginning.  The  first  great  period  of  the  history 
of  the  world,  is  from  the  creation  down  to  the  deluge  ; 
containing  the  space  of  one  thousand  six  hundred  and 
fifty-six  years;  and  a  succession  of  eight  lives,  from 
Adam,  te>  the  six  hundredth  year  of  Noah.  The  se- 
cond is,  from  the  flood  to  the  calling  of  Abraham,  and 
contains  four  hundred  and  twenty-seven  years  ;  and  a 
succession  of  ten  lives,  from  the  hundred  and  eighth 
year  of  Shem,  the  son  of  Noah,  to  the  seventy-fifth 
of  Abraham,  the  father  and  founder  of  the  Jewish 
nation  :  six  of  the  patriarchs,  after  the  flood,  being 
r.ow  dead,  Noah,  Phaleg,  Rehu,  Serug,  Nahor,  and 
Terah  -,  and  four  of  them  still  living,  Shem,  Arphaxad, 
Salah,  and  Heber.  So  that  one  life,  that  of  Shem,, 
connects  the  antediluvian  world,  and  the  call  of  Abra- 
ham. Foi*  he  was  ninety-eight  years  old  before  the 
flood  came;  and  lived  till  Abraham  was  one  hundred 
and  fii'ty,  and  Isaac  fifty  years  old.  The  third  grand 
period  of  the  world,  containing  four  hundred  and  thirty 
years,  commences  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  month 
Ahib,  which  answers  to  the  end  of  our  April,  or  the 
beginning  of  May.  And  some  learned  chronologists- 
have  undertaken  to  prove,  from  the  scripture  history 
and  astronomical  calculations,  that  Abraham  departed 
from  Ilaran,  the  paschal  lamb  was  sacrificed  in  Egypt, 
and  Christ  expired  upon  the  cross,  as  the  propitiation 
for  the  sins  of  the  world,  on  Calvary,  iii  the  identical 


LECT.  XII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  16? 

month  of  th";  year,  day  of  the  moiilh,  and  hour  and 
uiinute  oi  the  day.  This  period  contains  a  succession 
of  seven  lives,  inckiding  Abraham's,  from  liis  seventy- 
fifth  year  to  the  eightieth  of  the  hfe  of  Moses. 

From  tliC  creation,  then,  to  the  exodus,  is  the  space 
of  two  thousand  fneliuudrcd  and  thirteen  years,  and 
a  succession  oi  tvventy-lbur  lives.  I'he  date  of  this 
event,  in  relation  to  other  important  and  well  known 
events  in  the  history  of  mankind,  stands  as  follows:  it 
happened  after  the  death  of  Abraham,  three  hundred 
and  thirty^  ears.  After  the  death  of  Isaac,  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five.  After  the  death  of  Jacob,  one 
hundred  and  ninety-eight.  After  the  death  of  Joseph, 
one  hundred  and  tbrty-four.  Before  the  destruction 
of  Troy,  about  three  hundred.  Before  the  first  Olym- 
piad, or  the  earliest  reckoning  of  time  among  the 
Greeks,  seven  hundred  and  fourteen.  Before  the 
building  of  the  temple,  when  the  Israelitish  glory  was 
in  its  zenith,  five  hundred  and  six.  Before  the  Baby- 
lonish captivity,  nine  hundred  and  sixty-three.  Be- 
fore the  building  of  Rome,  seven  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight.  Betbre  Christ  was  born  at  Bethlehem,  one 
thousand  five  hundred  fifty-one.  Before  the  present 
year  1793,  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  forty- 
four. 

What  is  the  conclusion  of  tlie  whole  matter  ?  "  A 
thousand  years,"  O  Lord,  "  in  thy  sight  are  but  as 
yesterday  when  it  is  past,  and  as  a  watch  in  the  night," 
Psalm  xc.  -4.  *'  Our  fathers,  where  are  they  ?  the  pro^ 
phets,  do  they  live  fbr  ever  r"  "  Seeing  then  that  all 
these  things  shall  be  dissolved,  what  manner  of  persons 
ought  ye  to  be  in  all  holy  conversation  and  godliness ; 
looking  fbr  and  hasting  unto  the  coming  of  the  day  of 
God,  wherein  the  heavens  being  on  fire  shall  be  dis- 
solved, and  the  elements  shall  melt  with  fervent  heat  ? 
Nevertheless  we,  according  to  his  promise,  look  fbr 
new  heavens  and  a  new  earth,  wherein  duelleth  righ- 
teousaess,"    SPet.  iii.  11^  12,  13.     "So  teach  us  to 


■  168  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XII. 

number  our  days,  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto 
wisdom,"  Psalm  xc.  12.  *'  Many  shall  come  from  the 
east  and  west,  and  shall  sit  down  with  Abraham,  Isaac 
and  Jacob  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,"  Mat.  viii.  11. 
"  The  law  was  given  by  Moses,  but  grace  and  truth 
caviie  by  Jesus  Christ,"  J©hn  i.  17.  "  And  he,  that 
sat  upon  the  throne  said.  Behold,  I  make  all  things 
new."  "  He  which  testifieth  these  things  saith. 
Surely,  I  come  quickly.  Amen.  Even  so,  come.  Lord 
Jesus,"  Rev.  xxii.  20. 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES, 


LECTURE  XIII. 

Arjd  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses,  saying,  I  have  heard 
the  inurmuriugs  of  the  children  of  Israel  j  speak  un- 
to tlitm,  saying,  At  even  ye  shall  eatjlesh,  and  in  the 
■morning  ye  shall  be  Jilted  zvith  bread:  and  yc  shall 
know  that  I  am  the  Lordyour  God.  And  it  came  to 
pass,  that  at  even  the  quails  came  up,  and  covered  the 
camp  :  and  in  the  morning  the  dew  lay  round  gbout 
the  host.  And  zvhen  the  dew  that  lay  was  gone  up, 
behold,  upon  the  face  of  the  zvildcrness  there  lay  a 
small  round  thing,,  as  small  as  the  hoar-frost  on  the 
ground.  And  ivken  the  children  of  Israel  saw  it,  they 
said  one  to  another.  It  is  manna  :  for  they  zaist  not 
zthat  it  zcas.  And  Moses  said  unto  them,  this  is  the 
bread  which  the  Lord  hath  given  you  to  e-a^.-.-Exo- 
DuSjXvi.   11. ..15 

1\/rAN,  composed  of  body  and  spirit,  is  giving  con- 
-^^-*-  tinual  indication  of  the  origin  from  wliidi  he 
springs.  His  creative  imagination,  his  penetrating 
understanding,  his  quickness  of  apprehension,  loftiness 
of  thought,  eagerness  of  desire,  fondness  of  hope ; 
nay,  even  his  erect  figure,  and  a  countenance  turned 
upward  to  the  skies,  bespeak  him  the  son  of  God,  into 
whose  nostrils  Jehovah  has  breathed  the  breath  of  hfe, 
and  whom  he  has  framed  after  his  own  image.  On  the 
other  hand,  appetites  perpetually  craving  a  supply  out 
of  the  earth  ;  the  law  of  his  nature,  which  stretches 
him  in  a  state  of  insensibility  upon  the  lap  of  his  mo- 
ther, for  one  third  of  his  existence,  in  order  to  support 
VOL.   u.  V 


170  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XIII, 

the  employments  of  the  other  two ;  and  rational 
powers  subjected  to  the  will  of  sense,  shew  us  a  crea- 
ture taken  from  the  dust  of  the  ground,  always  depen- 
dent npon  it,  and  hastening  to  return  thitherward 
again. 

Providence  permits  us  not  for  a  moment  to  forget 
who  and  whence  we  are.  Have  we  labored  an  hour 
or  two?  Hunger  and  thirst  and  weariness  irresistibly 
dravv-  us  to  the  grosser  elements  of  which  we  are  com- 
pounded. A  little  bread  and  water  having  dispensed 
their  nourishing  virtue,  a  short  sleep  having  restored 
our  wasted  powers,  the  soul  starts  up  into  conscious 
immortality,  it  springs  forward  to  eternity,  grasps  the 
globe,  expatiates  from  sphere  to  sphere,  ascends  to  the 
throne  of  God  liimself.  At  one  time,  we  behold  a 
grovelling  contemptible  being,  all  body,  absorbed  in 
the  low  and  gross  desire  of  the  moment,  a  fit  comf)a- 
rjion  to  the  beasts  that  perish  ;  and  anon  we  see  tliat 
very  same  wretched  creature  becoming  all  spirit,  leav- 
ing the  earth  behind  him,  mixing  with  angels,  and  hold- 
ing fellowship  with  the  Father  of  spirits. 

Religion  is  constantly  aiming  at  the  restoration  of 
our  fallen  Jiature,  h  still  exerting  her  quickening  power 
to  raise  the  beastial  into  rational,  the  rational  into  di- 
v;ne  ;  she  graciously  employs  herself  in  gradually  de- 
taching us  from  things  seen  and  temporal,  and  in  unit- 
ing us  to  those  vvbich  are  unseen  and  are  eternal.  The 
world,  on  the  contrary,  is  as  constantly  striving  to  de- 
grade, to  depress,  to  extinguish  the  immortal  principle, 
and  to  sink  the  man  in  the  brute.  Hence  we  see  the 
worldling  dreaming  of  much  goods  laid  up  for  many 
years,  endeavoring  to  confer  duiation  even  upon  his 
sensuality  j  while  Christ  teacheih  his  disciples  to  pray, 
saying,  "  Give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread,"  And  by 
this  admonition,  h'?  poweriidly  checks  immoderate 
anxiety  about  the  future.  "  I'herefore  I  say  unto  you, 
take  no  thought  for  your  life,  what  ye  shall  eat,  or 
what  ye  shall  drink  j  nor  yet  for  your  body,  what  ye 


lEGT.  XIII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  171 

shall  put  on  :  is  not  the  life  more  than  meat,  and  the 
body  than  laiinnant  ?  Biiiold  the  fowls  of  llie  air:  for 
they  sow  not,  neither  do  they  reap,  nor  ;:r'»ther  into 
barns;  yet  yom- heavenly  Father  le((Jelh  them.  Are 
ye  not  much  better  than  thi'y  ?"  Matt.  vi.  25,  20. 

To  teaei)  men  their  constant  dependence,  their  pro- 
vision is  bestowed  in  a  gradual,  daily  supply  ;  not  in 
heaps  but  in  handfuis.  And  when  God  was  pleased 
miraculously  to  feed  Israel  in  the  wilderness  for  forty 
years  together.  The  food  of  every  day  came  in  its 
day.  All  attempts  to  hoard  were  defeated.  -  Every 
one's  portion  was  sufiicienily  ample;  and  accumula- 
tion became  a  nuisance  instead  of  wealth. 

Men,  under  tlie  impulse  of  their  passions  sluggishly 
erawl,  or  eagerly  run  to  the  objects  of  their  pursuit ; 
but  God  is  ever  advancing  towards  his  in  the  same 
steady,  majestic  pace.  A\  hen  we  hear  of  the  birth  of 
Mos^s,thedehverer  of  Israel,  we  immediately  conclude 
that  the  time  of  their  redemption  is  now  at  hand. 
But  behold  forty  years  elapse  before  a  single  effort 
is  made  for  this  pnrpose.  And,  it  is  then  the  feeble 
etfort  of  a  solitary  individual  to  avenge  a  private 
wrong;  while  the  general  enlVanchisement  seems  rather 
retarded  than  accelerated  by  it ;  and  another  period 
of  forty  years  passes,  without  one  apparent  step  taken 
towards  public  liberty.  The  fetters  of  Egypt  are 
at  length  broken,  and  Israel  is  enlarged ;  but  the 
possession  of  Canaan  is  still  at  a  distance  ;  and  a 
third  space  of  forty  years  consumes  that  whole 
generation  in  tlie  wilderness ;  and  Moses,  their  conduc- 
tor, dies  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  years, 
before  the  sole  of  one  loot  enters  into  the  land  of  pro- 
mise, as  a  possession.  So  unlike  are  the  preconceptions 
of  erring  men  to  the  designs  of  the  infinitely  wise  God. 

When  we  behold  that  vast  congregation,  by  such  a 
display  of  Omnipotence  rescued  from  bondage,  con- 
ducted through  the  Red  sea,  made  to  triumph  over 
ail  their  enemies^  we  are  apt  to  consider  them  as  the 


172'  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XIII. 

favorites  of  Heaven,  destined  to  personal  honors  and 
possessions.  Blit  the  event  teaches  us  to  correct  our 
hasty  judgment,  and  instructs  us  that  not  the  particu- 
Jar  interests  of  individuals,  but  the  great  interests  of 
the  church  of  God,  are  the  care  of  Heaven  ;  that, 
though  Aaron  and  his  sons  may  die,  the  priesthood 
ever  lives  ;  and  that  while  prophet  after  prophet  retires, 
it  is  only  to  make  room  for  the  Prince  and  Lord  of  all 
the  prophets. 

Of  little  consequence  is  it  to  obtain  possession  of 
expected  good,  unless  we  be  fitted  for  the  enjoyment 
of  it.  A  nation  of  slaves  was  unqualified  to  exercise 
the  rights  and  to  enjoy  the  privileges  of  citizens.  Israel 
had  no  existence  in  Egypt  but  merely  a  natural  one. 
They  had  no  civil  constitution,  no  laws,  no  govern- 
ment. To  have  been  conducted  directly  to  Canaan  in 
such  a  state  had  been  the  reverse  of  a  benefit.  Pro- 
vidence therefore  thought  proper  to  employ  a  series  of 
years  in  the  wilderness,  in  training  the  people  for  em- 
pire, in  modelling  a  government  suitable  to  their  future 
condition,  and  by  enacting  wise  laws,  respecting  both 
religion  and  civil  polity,  prepared  them  for  that  exalt- 
ed rank  which  they  were  to  hold  among  the  nations  ; 
and  that  duration  of  power  and  importance,  with  which 
the  salvation  of  the  whole  human  race  was  so  closely 
connected.  Thus  the  eternal  decree  makes  the  pos- 
session of  the  heavenly  Canaan  sure  to  every  heir  of 
glory ;  which  decree,  the  justifying  grace  and  adopt- 
ing love  of  his  heavenly  Father  declare  and  confirm  ; 
but  he  is  not  brought  home  to  his  Father's  house  above, 
til!  through  the  school  of  discipline,  and  by  the  Spirit 
of  hohness,  he  is  "  made  meet  to  be  a  partaker  of 
the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light." 

Men,  through  impatience  and  peevishness,  miss  the 
very  end  at  v.hich  they  aim.  Canaan  flies  but  the  far- 
ther off",  from  being  grasped  at  too  soon.  The  homely 
provision  brought  from  Egypt  was  now  spent ;  the 
milk  and  honey  of  Canaan   were  not  vet   bestowed. 


LECr.    Xlir.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  '       173 

The  \vilderness  naturally  produced  nothing;  for  food, 
hardly  water  to  quench  their  liiirst.  The  wonders  of 
Egypt,  the  parting:  of  the  Red  Sen,  the  swecteniiiir  of 
the  bitter  waters  of  Marah,  all,  all  is  Ibrijotlen  the  mo- 
ment distress  comes  upon  thcui.  "  And  the  whole 
con^rei^'atiou  of  the  children  of  Israel  murmured 
against  Moses  and  Aaron  in  the  wilderness."  God 
immediately  takes  up  tlie  cause  as  jiis  own  ;  but  in- 
stead of  expressing  the  resentment  of  an  insulted  so- 
vereign and  benefactor,  declares  his  gracious  resolution 
to  overcome  this  ungracious  spirit,  by  compliance  and 
kindness;  and  men,  unworthy  of  the  njeanest  earthly 
fare,  have  a  promise  of  a  daily  supply  of  bread  from 
heaven.  But  as  God  does  not  always  withhold  in  dis- 
pleasure, so  he  does  not  always  grant  from  love.  When 
Providence  deigns  to  indulge  the  humors  and  gratify 
the  lusts  of  men,  it  is  far,  very  far  from  being  a  token 
for  good.  A  promise  of  bread  in  the  morning  is  pre- 
cious information  ;  but  the  addition  of  llesli  to  the  full 
in  the  evening  wears  rather  the  appearance  oi'  a  threat- 
enins:.  AVhen  our  desires  exceed  the  bounds  of  wis- 
dom,  the  acTomplishment,  not  the  disappointment  of 
them,  becomes  our  punishment. 

It  is  remarkable  too,  that  the  luxurious  part  of  their 
demand  was  granted  before  that  which  was  necessary. 
The  quails  came  in  the  evening  ;  the  manna  aj)peared 
not  till  the  next  morning.  Another  proof,  that  the 
supply  granted  flowed  not  from  unmixed  affection. 

W  ithout  going  at  present  into  any  of  the  critical  in- 
quiries which  have  been  pursued,  respecting  either  the 
name  or  the  nature  of  tliis  wonderful  bread,  we  proceed 
to  make  a  few  practical  observations  upon  it,  ioundcd 
upon  the  letter  of  the  history',  as  it  stands  in  our  bible. 

First.  Then  and  then  only  is  faith  warranted  to 
expect  relief  from  a  miracle,  when  means  have  been 
tried  without  effect ;  or,  when  we  are  in  sucli  a  t>itua- 
tion,  that  no  means  can  be  used  with  a  probability  of 
success.     If  God  in  his  providence  has  brought  us  mlo 


174  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XIII. 

the  wilderness,  where  no  corn  can  grow,  where>no 
water  liows,  we  may  reasonably  look  for  an  interpo- 
sition from  above  for  our  support,  which  we  should 
expect  in  vain  in  a  land  of  corn  and  vineyards.  Where 
there  is  a  field  for  the  exercise  of  foresight,  industry 
^nd  diligence,  we  tempt  God  instead  of  honoring 
liim,  when  we  cast  our  work,  and  not  our  care,  upon 
liiin.  And  yet  it  is  not  uncommon  to  see  a  listless,, 
jiido'ient  disposition,  wanting  to  pass  itself  for  reliance 
on  the  goodness  of  Heaven.  Herod  desired  to  see 
Christ  merely  in  the  view  of  gratification  to  an  idle 
curiosity  in  hope  of  seeing  a  miracle  performed  ;  but 
Itis  motive  being  wrong  and  unworthy,  his  desire  was 
Bot  induigedy  The  Pharisees,  from  a  captious,  unbe- 
iiLeving  spirit,  tempted  Christ,  "  asking  a  sign  from  hea- 
veiaj"  but  though  signs  innumerable  were  every  day 
exhibited  in  compassion  to  the  miserable  and  conde- 
sceuyion  to  the  weak,  no  sign  but  that  "  of  the  pro- 
phet Jonas,"  was  given  to  the  self-conceited  infidel. 
Jehovah  performs  the  wonders  of  his  power  and  good- 
aess,  neither  to  save  the  exertions  of  the  lazy,  nor  to 
lickle  the  imaginations  of  the  curious.  His  object  is  not 
to  make  men  stare  and  wonder,  but  to  do  them  good. 

Secondly.  Men's  happiest  estate  is  to  feel  his  daily, 
constant  dependence  upon  his  Maker,  and  to  see  the 
tegular  promised  supply  evincing  the  truth  and  faith- 
fulness of  its  bountii'ul  Author.  With  a  monitor  for 
God  pressing  in  upon  us  through  every  avenue  of  the 
soul,  we  are  nevertheless  apt  to  be  inattentive  and 
ttnithankful.  It  is  therefore  an  instance  of  e^reat  good- 
m.ess,  when  God  is  pteased  to  force  himself  upon  our 
thoughts,  and  to  invite  us  to  communion  with  *'  the 
Father  of  our  spirits,"  in  the  commerce  of  a  constant 
liabitual  friendship.  Here  then  the  poor  have  infinitely 
the  advantage  over  the  rich.  They  s'ee,  or  they  arc  blind 
indeed,  they  see  their  **  dry  morsel  and  their  dinner 
of  herbs,"  coming  at  the  expected  hour  from  the 
taunt)  of  indulgent  Heaven,      i'hey  are  not  suffered 


JLECT.  XIII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  1 


JO 


to  be  careless,  impious  and  ungrateful.  Tlieir  lioiiuly 
tare  is  garnished  and  .seasoned  with  what  gold  cannot 
purchase,  nor  power  compel,  the  gentle  whispers  of  a 
Fatlx'r'.s  love,  the  kindly  welcome  of  an  atlcctionate 
iViend.  And  yet  the  bulk  of  mankind  is  striving  and 
.straining  to  get  out  of  this  happy  state  ;  eagerly  catch- 
ing at  a  situation  which  would  infallibly  betray  them 
into  self-sulijciency,  insolence  and  irreligion.  That 
pioud  word,  independence,  is  continually  in  their  mouths, 
and  the  thing  itself  is  in  their  hearts  ;  not  considering, 
that  the  real  Ijappiness  of  man  consists  in  mutual  con- 
nexion and  dependence,  and  that  the  glory  and  felicitv 
of  every  rational  being  is  founded  upon  union  with, 
and  a  sense  of  his  constant  and  entire  dependence  on 
his  Creator. 

Thirdly.  No  fulness  and  no  excellency  of  created 
comforts  will  produce  real  happiness  to  rational  beings, 
without  the  aid  of  religion.  During  the  abode  of  Israel 
in  Egypt,  the  observance  of  the  sabbath  had  been 
greatly  neglected,  if  not  altogether  disused.  The 
religious  principle  of  course  must  have  been  much 
weakened,  if  not  wholly  destroyed.  There  was  noth- 
ing done,  then,  till  this  matter  was  re-established.  For 
there  can  be  no  good  government  but  what  is  founded 
upon  religion ;  and  religion  cannot  long  exist  in 
any  degree  of  either  fervor  or  purity,  where  no 
attention  is  paid  to  the  Lord's  day.  Providence, 
therefore,  employed  a  certain  method  to  point  out  that 
day  to  Israel,  and  to  enforce  the  observance  of  it.  On 
that  day  no  manna  fell. But  to  compensate  thefailure, 
a  double  quantity  was  given  the  day  before;  and  the 
manna  of  that  day,  contrary  to  its  usual  custom,  retain- 
ed its  sweetness  during  the  sabbath  :  it  neither  melted 
away,  nor  became  putrid.  But,  alas  I  long  disuse  had 
so  much  diminished  public  respect  for  the  ordinance, 
that  a  discipline  for  forty  years  is  scarcely  sufficient  to 
restore  it  to  its  ancient  dignity  and  estimation.  The 
restraints  of  religion  are  no  encroachments  on  human 


176  HISTORY  OF  MOSES,  LECT.  XIII. 

liberty.  "  The  sabbath  was  made  for  man,"  a  season 
•of  rest  for  his  body,  a  season  of  contemplation  for  his 
mind.  It  was  intended  to  be  his  comfort,  as  a  citizen 
of  this  world  ;  and  his  condition  as  a  candidate  for  ano- 
ther country,  tliat  is  an  heavenly,  is  closely  connected 
with  it.  Can  the  great  God  be  honored  by  our  resting 
from  the  usual  employments  of  life  for  a  seventh  part 
of  our  time  ^  Surely  not  :  but  God  is  honored  and  glo- 
rified, when  man  is  made  wise,  good  and  happy. 

Fourthly.  The  folly  and  perverseness  of  men  exhi- 
bit a  meiancijoly  contrast  to  the  wisdoni  and  goodness 
of  God.  The  promise  of  the  Almighty  gave  full  as- 
surance of  a  daily,  certain,  stated  supply.  But  either 
through  mistrust  at  one  time  they  attempt  to  hoard  up 
to-morrow's  provision  from  the  superabundance  of  to- 
day ;  or  through  impiety  at  another,  they  violate  di- 
vine appointment  by  going  out  to  gather  on  that  day 
when  tht-y  were  expressly  assured  they  needed  to  ex- 
jject  none.  Thus  we  are  always  doing  too  little  or 
too  much  ;  impatiently  and  impetuously  outrunning 
Providence, or  sluggishly  and  carelessly  lagging  behind. 
And  what  do  we  get  to  ourselves,  in  either  case,  but 
disappointment  and  dishonor?  The  man  who  diffi- 
dently labored  to  accumulate  for  five  days  of  the  week, 
when  he  looks  upon  his  store,  finds  he  has  been  trea- 
.Miriiig  up  to  himself  nothing  but  stench  and  putrefac- 
tion ;  and  tlie  Israelite  who  presumptuously  trusted 
his  sabbath-day's  entertainment  to  the  manna  of  that 
day,  must  fast  for  his  folly. 

Fifthly.  Observe  the  care  oi"  Providence  to  ])reserve 
among  this  highly  favored  people  a  constant  sense  of 
their  equality.  All  had  their  constant  supply  ;  every 
one  was  entitled  to  iiis  fair  proportion  ;  and  no  good 
purpose  did  it  answer  to  grasp  at  a  double  portion. 
Ft-r  the  Ijand  v»  hich  miraculously  rained  down  this 
heavenly  bread,  miraculously  modified  it  to  every  one's 
use.  "  lie  who  gathered  much  had  nothing  over, 
siiid  he  that  gathered  little  had  no  lack."     Now  if  we 


LECT.  XIII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  l77 

attend  to  the  conduct  of  Providence  to  this  day,  and 
in  every  state  ol'  the  world,  we  shall  find  the  same 
equality  of  distribution  still  going  on.  A  man  has  just 
what  he  uses  and  no  more.  With  a  chest  full  of  fr'old. 
he  has  a  de.sire  to  eat  but  twice  or  thrice  a  day  at  most. 
With  a  thousand  suits  of  apparel  in  his  waidrobe,  he 
can  use  but  one  at  a  time.  His  neighbor,  tliere- 
fore,  who  has  but  one  dinner,  and  one  coat  at  once, 
is,  upon  the  whole,  just  as  rich  as  he.  Beyond  wliat 
nature  requires,  reason  approves,  and  the  Almiglity 
crowns  with  his  blessing,  all  is  childish  and  fantastical. 
*'  There  is  that  scattereth,  and  yet  increaseth ;  and 
there  is  that  withholdeth  more  than  is  meet,  but  it 
tendeth  to  poverty,"  Prov.  xi.  24.  If  this  were  felt 
and  understood, as  it  ought,  we  should  see  less  eao-er- 
ness,  rapacity  and  selfishness  in  one  part  of  mankind, 
and  less  untljankHiIness  and  discontent  in  another. 

Sixthly.  Mark  the  danger  of  giving  way  to  a  light, 
wRnton,  fancil'ul  disposition.  Even  manna  pleased 
not  long.  An  imagination  filled  with  the  luxurious 
dainties  of  Egypt,  soon  spurned  at  it,  as  "light  bread." 
Tliere  is  no  end  lo  wishing  and  desiring.  Unadulte- 
rated nature  craves  but  little,  and  is  not  difficult  to 
please.  But  once  give  the  reins  to  fancy,  and  the 
wealth  of  Croesus,  the  magnificence  of  Solomon,  the 
elegance  of  Lucullus,  and  the  luxury  of  Heliogiibalus, 
will  soon  stink  and  be  dispised.  Men  ate  angels'  food, 
and  loathed  it.  Of  what  importance  then  must  it  be, 
to  check  in  ourselves,  and  to  repress  in  those  whose 
virtue  and  tiappmess  are  entrusted  to  our  care,  the  first 
workings  of  a  wild  and  fantastical  appetite.  Children 
catinot  be  too  simply  clotned  and  fed.  Solicit  the  pa- 
late by  delicacies,  and  you  kindle  a  fire  in  the  imagin- 
ation to  which  no  wealth  can  administer  a  sufficient 
suptply  of  feul,  which  no  reason  can  keep  within  bounds, 
which  will  certainly  produce  a  thousand  real  evils,  and 
render  the  possession  of  the  real  felicities  of  life  taste- 
less and  insipid.     Teach  young   ones  to  value  them- 

YOL.    II.  z 


17S  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XIII. 

selves  on  dress  and  appearance,  and  you  undermine  the 
iabric  of  their  true  consequence.  In  proportion  as 
you  lead  them  to  derive  their  importance  from  the 
adorning  of  their  bodies,  you  strip  and  expose  their 
minds. 

Seventhly.  The  same  Power  which  corrupted  the 
mdnna  on  the  second  day,  and  which  preserved  it  from 
corruption  every  seventh  day,  commanded  a  small  por- 
tion to  be  laid  up,  for  a  memorial  to  future  generations ; 
and  for  that  purpose  muaculously  kept  it  in  its  original 
slate  of  sweetness  and  perfection.  In  this  we  see  the 
absolute  subjection  of  all  things  to  the  will  of  God. 
'I'hey  grow  and  decay,  they  continue  and  pass  away, 
they  live  and  perish,  just  as  he  will.  *'  I  know  that 
thou  wilt  bring  me  to  death,  and  to  the  house  appoint- 
ed for  all  living."  "  And  I  know  that  my  Redeemer 
liveth,  and  that  he  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon 
the  earth.  And  though  after  my  skin  worms  destroy 
this  body,  yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God."  No 
power  nor  skill  can  redeem  the  body  from  the  power 
of  the  grave ;  the  arm  of  an  archangel  is  unable  to 
confine  it  there. 

Finally.  The  manna  from  heaven  is  likewise  an 
image  of  better  things  to  come.  The  bread  of  angels 
could  not  confer  immortality  on  those  who  did  eat  it  : 
but  "  the  true  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven," 
communicates  eternal  life  to  all  who  partake  of  it. 
But  the  words  of  our  Saviour  himself  will  best  explain 
this  subject.  *'  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  I  am  the  bread 
of  life  ;  he  that  cometh  to  me  shall  never  hunger,  and 
he  that  believeth  on  me  shall  never  thirst.  Verily, 
verily,  1  say  unto  you,  he  that  believeth  on  me  hath 
everlasting  life.  1  am  the  bread  of  life.  Your  fathers  did 
eat  manna  in  the  wilderness  and  are  dead.  This  is  the 
bread  which  cometh  down  from  heaven,  that  a  man  may 
eat  thereof  and  not  die.  I  am  the  living  bread  which 
came  down  from  heaven.     If  anv  man  eat  of  this  bread 


LECT.  XIII.  HISTORY  OF  MOsr-S.  179 

lie  shall  live  for  ever  ;  and  the  bread  wliich  I  uiil  uive  is 
my  tlesh  which  I  will  give  for  the  life  of  the  world.  Tlie 
Jews,  thcrelbre,  strove  ainoiii;  themselves,  saj'ing. 
How  can  this  man  give  us  hisllesh  to  eat  ?  Then  Je- 
sus said  unto  them,  Veril}-,  verily,  1  say  unto  you,  ex- 
cept ye  eat  the  tlesh  and  drink  the  blood  of  the  Son  of 
Alan,  ye  have  no  life  in  you.  Whoso  eateth  my  llesh 
and  drinketh  my  blood,  hath  eternal  lite  ;  and  I  will 
raise  him  up  at  tlie  last  day  ;  for  my  tlesh  is  meet  in- 
deed, and  my  blood  is  drink  indeed.  He  that  eateth 
my  flesh  and  drinketh  my  blood,  dwelltth  in  me,  and 
I  in  him."  "  As  the  living  Father  hath  sent  me,  and  I 
live  by  the  Father,  so  he  that  eateth  me,  even  he  shall 
live  by  me.  This  is  the  bread  which  came  down  from 
heaven,  not  as  your  fathers  did  eat  manna,  and  are 
dead.  He  that  eateth  of  this  bread  shall  live  for 
ever,"  John  vi.  47,  &c. 

Having  thus  finished  the  Course  of  Lectures  propos- 
ed ibr  this  season,*  what  remains,  but  that  with  a 
grateful  heart  I  first  acknowledge  the  great  goodness 
of  Almighty  God,  who  has  graciously  lent  health  and 
strength  for  carrying  on  this  undertaking  thus  far.  If 
any  favor  of  divine  things  has  been  fell,  or  communi- 
cated ;  if  scripture  truth  has,  to  any,  been  set  in  u  new 
or  an  agreeable  lights  if  a  taste  for  sacred  reading 
and  meditation  has  been  conveyed ;  if  the  connexion 
between  the  Old  and  New  Testament  has  been  point- 

*  For  the  reason  assigned,  when  these  discourses  were  first  sub- 
mitted to  the  public  eye,  some  of  the  occasional  addresses  from 
the  pulpit  were  retained  in  the  publication.  But  the  Lectures  of 
a  season  noi  corresponding  exactly  to  the  usual  size  of  a  volume, 
it  became  at  length  a  matter  of  doubt,  whether  these  addresses 
should  be  altogether  suppressed,  moddled  into  a  more  proper  dic- 
tion and  station  from  the  press,  or  given  exactly  in  tiie  order  and 
words  in  which  they  were  delivered.  The  doubt  issued  in  re- 
solving upon  the  last.  This  Lecture  concluded  the  Course  of 
the  Spring,  1783.  The  course  of  the  ensuing  season  commenc- 
ed with  thac  which  follows.  Perhaps  it  was  unncsessary  to  say 
so  much,  in  explanation  of  a  matter  so  little  important  as  the- 
conclusion  of  one  discourse  and  the  introduction  to  another* 


180  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECf.  XIH 

ed  out,  and  impressed  upon  any  heart ;  and,  if  the 
young  in  particular  have  been  induced,  by  any  thing 
said  in  this  place,  to  think  for  themselves,  and  to  com- 
jjare  spiritual  things  with  spiritual  ;  the  Lecturer  has 
gained  his  end,  and  is  already  in  possession  of  his  re- 
ward. The  praise  he  cheerfully  renders  to  Him  to 
whom  it  belongs. 

To  you,  my  very  dear  friends,  my  thanks  are  in  the 
next  place  unquestionably  due,  and  are  rendered  with 
unfeigned  gratitude.  Your  patient  attendance  and 
candid  attention,  during  seven  months  together,  I  shall 
ever  consider  as  a  proof  of  attachment  the  most  flat- 
tering and  the  most  encouraging.  Why  should  I 
conceal  my  feelings  on  the  occasion  ?  I  engaged  in 
this  undertaking,  at  first,  with  tear  and  trembling ;  I 
proceeded  with  solicitude  •,  but  I  conclude  with  heart- 
ielt  satisfaction  ;  because  the  countenance  I  have  met 
with  encourages  me  to  hope  that  my  labors  may  have 
been  doing  some  good.  If  there  be  one  circum- 
stance which  gives  me  pain,  it  is  the  excess  of  that  li- 
berality and  approbation  which  has  so  far  over-rated 
and  overpaid  my  endeavors,  to  convey  to  you  useful 
and  pleasing  instruction.  In  return,  ail  I  can  do,  is  to 
wish  and  pray  that  your  kindness  may  be  returned  a 
thousand  fold  into  your  bosoms,  in  temporal,  spi- 
ritual and  heavenly  blessings.  And  now,  my  beloved 
brethren,  farewell.  To  the  grace  of  God  I  commend 
you  all :  even,  *'  to  Him  that  is  able  to  keep  you  from 
falling,  and  to  present  you  faultless  before  the  presence 
of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy;  even  to  the  only  wise 
God  our  Saviour,"  Jude  24,  25.  That  we  shall  never 
all  meet  again  in  an  earthly  temple,  is  certain.  For 
time  is  hastening  to  silence  the  tongue  of  the  preacher, 
and  to  close  the  hearer's  ear.  But  we  have  everlast- 
ing consolation  and  good  hope,  through  grace,  of  meet- 
ing together,  and  of  worshipping  in  that  temple, 
**  which  has  no  need  of  the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon, 
to  shine  in  it ;  for  the  glory  of  God  doth  lighten  it,  and 


LECT.    XIII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  181 

the  Lamb  is  the  light  thereof.  And  the  nations  of 
them  which  are  saved  shall  walk  in  the  light  of  it ;  and 
the  kings  of  the  earth  do  bring  their  glory  and  ho- 
nor into  it.  And  the  gates  of  it  shall  not  be  shut  at 
all  by  day ;  for  there  shall  be  no  night  there,"  Rev. 
xxi.  23,  24,  2o.  Let  us,  therefore,  "  be  steadfast,  un- 
movable,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord  ; 
forasmuch  as  we  know  that  our  labor  is  not  in  vain  in 
the  Lord,"  1  Cor.  xv.  -^8. 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  XIV. 

And  all  the  co77gregation  of  the  children  of  Israel  jour^ 
neycdfrom  the  ivilderness  of  Sin,  after  their  joiir- 
nies,  according  to  the  commandment  of  the  Lord,  and 
pitched  in  Rtphidem  :  and  there  was  no  water  for  the 
people  to  drink.  Wherefore  the  people  did  chide  zvith 
Moses,  and  said.  Give  us  water,  that  we  map  drink. 
And  Moses  said  unto  them.  Why  chide  you  icith  me  ? 
IVherefore  do  ye  tempt  the  Lord?  And  the  Lord 
said  unto  Moses,  Go  on  before  the  people,  and  take 
zvith  thee  of  the  elders  of  Israel  and  thy  rod,  xvherc- 
zvith  thou  smotest  the  river,  take  in  thine  hand,  and 
go.  Behold  I  will  stand  before  thee  there  upon  the 
rock  in  Horeb  ;  and  thou  shall  s?nite  the  rock,  and 
there  shall  come  water  out  of  it,  that  the  people  may 
drink.  And  Moses  did  so  in  the  sight  of  the  elders 
if  Israel. ...EiiODVs  xvii.  1,  2. ...5,  6. 

^  TT^HE  reconciliation  of  interrupted  friendship  is  on© 
■JL  of  the  chief  deliglits  of  human  life.  The  extatic 
]jieasure  of  meeting  again,  after  long  absence,  persons 
whom  we  dearly  love,  obliterates  in  a  moment  the 
pain  of  separation:  and  one  hour  of  sweet  communi- 
cation  compensates  the  languor,  solicitude,  and  gloom 
(yf  many  years.  After  an  interval  of  five  months,  I 
re  turn,  to  converse  with  Moses,  and  to  talk  of  him  to 
y(;Li,  with  the  satisfaction  of  one  who  has  been  upon 
a  long  juurney,  and,  returning  home,  finds  again  those 
whom  he  left,  those  whom  he  loves;  and  finds  them 
sach  as  he  wishes  theai  to  be.     Let  us,  my  dear  friends. 


lECT.  XIV.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  183 

with  increased  ardor,  aflection,  admiration  and  gra- 
titude, renew  our  intimacy  with  the  venerable  man  to 
whom  we  are  indebted  for  so  much  rational  ))lea- 
sure,  and  for  so  much  uselul  instruction.  Moses, 
thou  })rince  of  historians,  sublimest  of  poets,  sagest 
of  legishitors,  clearest-sighted  of  prophets,  most  am- 
iable of  men  !  To  thee  we  owe  our  knowledge  of 
the  ages  beyond  the  flood  !  Thou  first  taughtest  to 
string  the  sacred  lyre,  and  to  adapt  the  high  praises 
of  God  to  the  enchanting  concord  of  sweet  sounds. 
By  thee,  king  in  Jeshurun,  all  succeeding  princes 
have  been  instructed  how  to  govern  ;  and  lawgivers 
are  formed  to  political  wisdom  and  sagacity.  By 
thee,  Jews  were  led  to  expect,  and  Gentiles  are  en- 
couraged to  rejoice  in  Messiah,  the  great  prophet, 
after  thy  similitude  ;  by  whom  alone  thou  art  excelled. 
And  by  thee,  sweetest,  meekest,  gentlest  of  mankind, 
the  endearing  charities  of  private  life  are  most  engag- 
ingly exemplified,  and  most  powerfully  recommended^ 
But  chielly  thee,  O   Spirit !  thee   only,  we  adore, 

*'  Who  didst  inspire 

That  shepherd  who  first  taught  the  chosen  seed, 
In  the  beginning,  how  the  heavens  and  earth 
Rose  out  of  chaos." 

"Whatever  wisdom  we  may  have  learned,  whatever 
pleasure  we  may  have  enjoyed,  whatever  comfort  we 
possess,  whatever  hope  we  feel. ..all,  all  is  of  thee, 
pure,  eternal,  unchanging  source  of  light  and  life  and 

Aloses,  in  the  passage  of  his  writings  which  I  have 
now  read,  is  carrying  on  his  own  iuteresting,  eventful 
history.  At  the  head  of  the  myriads  of  Israel,  he  is 
now  pursuing  his  march  from  Egypt  to  Canaan,  fol- 
Jowing  a  guide  who  would  not  mislead  them,  and 
whom  they  could  not  mistake  ;  protected  by  a  power, 
which,  like  a  wall  of  fire,  bid  defiance  to  every  threat- 
ening foe  ;  and  from  day  to  day  supplied  by  a  bounty 
incapable  of  being   exhausted.     All  these  present  and 


184  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XIY. 

singular  advantages,  had  the  sweetness  of  hope  mino-- 
led  with  them.  They  had  just  escaped  from  the  most 
humiliating  and  oppressive  of  all  servitude,  and  they 
were  hastening  to  the  inheritance  of  their  fathers  :  yet 
we  find  them  a  people  as  peevish,  irritable,  and  diffi- 
cult to  please,  as  if  they  had  never  known  adversity, 
and  as  if  they  had  just  issued  from  the  lap  of  ease  and 
indulgence.  To  day,  the  bread  is  dry  and  stale ;  to- 
morrow, the  water  is  bitter  ;  the  third  day,  there  is  a 
scarcity  of  it.  The  water  is  sweetened  ;  manna  des- 
cends ;  quails  fall  around  their  camp  ;  but  there  is  still 
**  a  cruel  something  unpossessed,"  and  all  that  went 
before  is  forgotten;  all  that  is  in  possession  becomes 
insipid.  Bestow  on  the  ungrateful  persons  nine 
hundred  and  ninety-nine  favors,  and  withhold  the 
thousandth,  and  all  you  have  done  for  him  is  lost. 
The  present  pressure  always  seems  the  heaviest. 
Alouldy  bread  and  brackish  water  in  the  wilderness, 
are  considered  as  evils  more  intolerable  than  all  the  ri- 
gours of  slavery  in  Egypt. 

Where  does  this  censure  fall  ?  On  that  moody  mur- 
muring race,  the  Jews,  and  on  them  only  ?  Alas  !  it 
overwhelms  ourselves;  it  bears  hard,  not  upon  indivi- 
duals here  and  there,  but  upon  mankind !  We  expect 
more  from  the  world  than  it  possibly  can  bestow  ;  and, 
when  we  discover  its  insufficiency,  we  charge  God 
foolishly;  and  because  we  have  not  every  thing  that 
we  wish,  we  are  satisfi'^d  with  nothing.  Solacing  our- 
selves, like  Jonah,  under  the  shadow  of  a  gourd,  we 
fancy  it  is  a  perennial  shelter.  We  see  not  the  worm 
which  is  gnawing  its  root ;  and  when  it  is  smitten  down 
and  withers,  we  are  ready  to  say,  with  the  sullen,  tes- 
ty prophet,  "  We  do  well  to  be  angry." 

But,  was  the  want  of  water  a  slight  evil  ?  And,  is  it 
sinfiil  to  complain  under  the  pressure  of  a  calamity  like 
this  ?  And,  was  this  the  fiistUme  Israel  had  been  in 
distress,  and  found  relief?  Who  was  it  that  sweetened 
the  waters  of  Marah  ?  Who  divided  the   Red  Sea  ? 


LECT.  XIV.  HISTORY    OF  MOSES.  185 

Who  rained  bread  from  hoaven  ?  And,  who  ever 
mended  his  condition  by  mucmuring  and  discontent? 
Had  God  intended  to  destroy  that  people,  why  all  this 
exertion  of  a  strong  hand,  and  stretched-out  arm  to 
deliver  them  ?  God  in  the  faihne  of  our  earthly  com- 
forts intends  not  our  mortification  and  ruin,  hut  our 
uisdom  and  improvement.  He  thereby  teaclies  us  our 
dependence;  it  summons  us  to  the  observation  of  his 
providence;  and  levels,  not  the  hope  and  joy,  but  the 
pride  and  self-sufficiency  of  man. 

Water !  precious  fluid  !  infinitely  more  valuable 
than  tlie  blood  of  the  grape,  than  rivulets  of  oil,  or 
honey  from  the  rock;  refreshed,  sustained  every  mo- 
ment by  thee,  we  are  every  moment  wasting,  neglect- 
ing, forgetting  thee.  We  prize  thee  not,  because  of 
I hy  rich  abundance  ;  and,  because  thou  enlerest  into 
every  other  mean  of  food  and  comfort,  thy  importance 
is  unobserved,  th}^  benefits  forgotten.  May  I  never 
know  thy  value  from  the  want  of  thee. 

"There  was  no  water  for  the  people  to  drink." 
AVherefore  the  people  tlid  cliide  w  ith  *'  Moses,  and 
said.  Give  us  water  that  we  may  drink.  And  Moses 
said  unto  them.  Why  chide  you  with  me  ?  Wherefore 
do  ye  tempt  the  Lord  ?"  If  in  their  cahnest  moments 
men  are  oiten  incapable  of  reasoning  justly,  and  dis- 
tinguishing accurately,  is  it  any  wonder  to  find  them, 
in  the  very  tide  and  s^'hirhvind  of  passion,  acting  fool- 
ishly and  unreasonably?  Who  would  envy  pre-emi- 
nence such  as  that  which  Moses  enjoyed?  Is  glory 
obtained  ?  He  comes  in  but  for  a  moderat(^  share. 
Is  blame  incurred,  or  distress  felt  ?  All  is  imputed 
to  him.  To  what  a  severe  trial  was  the  temper  of  this 
meekest  of  all  men  now  put !  What  so  provoking  as 
to  meet  with  censure  when  we  are  conscious  of  merit- 
ing praise?  What  so  galling  as  to  have  the  calamities 
of  others  charged  upon  us  as  crimes  ;  to  be  accused  as 
culpable,  merely  because  we  have  been  untbrtunate  ? 

VOL.  II.  2  A 


186  HISTORY  OF    MOSES.  LECT.  XITv, 

Surely  the   great  are  set   in  "  slippery  places  ;'*  and 
'*  uneasy  must  tiie  head  lie  that  wears  a  crown." 

^Ve  see  Moses  flying  in  the  hour  of"  clanger,  whither 
the  people  ought  to  have  fled  in  the  hour  of  their  af- 
fliction. '*  He  cried  unto  the  Lord,"  Religion  opens 
a  refuge  when  every  other  refuge  fails ;  and  it  admi- 
nisters a  remedy  to  ills  otherwise  incurable.  I  trem- 
ble for  the  life  of  Moses.  He  trembles  for  himself. 
"  They  are  almost  ready  to  stone  me."  The  voice  of 
Jehovah  is  again  heard,  and  Moses  is  in  safety.  But 
1  tremble  now,  for  these  murmuring,  unbelieving, 
rebellious  Israelites:  Is  not  the  thunder  of  His  indig- 
nation going  to  burst  out }  Is  not  the  fire  hastening  to 
consume  }  Or,  is  the  earth  going  to  open  her  mouth, 
and  >svvallow  them  quick  up  into  the  pit.?  Behold  a  so- 
lemn preparation  is  making  !  But  it  is  an  arrangement 
of  love.  It  is  the  voice  of  God  I  hear:  but  it  speaks 
mercy  and  peace.  The  tremeiidous  rod  of  God, 
wherev\  ilh  he  bruised  and  broke  Egypt,  is  again  em- 
ployed; but  not  as  the  instrument  of  punishment  to 
Israel.  It  smites,  not  a  sinful  people,  but  the  flinty 
rock  ;  and  it  diaws  forth,  not  a  stream  of  blood  from 
the  heart  of  the  offender,  but  a  stream  of  water  to 
cool  his  tongue,  and  to  restore  his  fa  nting  soul.  Sure- 
ly^  O  Lord,  "  thy  ways  aie  not  as  our  ways:  for  as 
the  heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth,  so  are  thy  waj'S 
higher  than  our  ways,  and  thy  thoughts  than  our 
thoughts,"  Isa.  Iv.  8,  9.  *'  Behold,  therefore,  the 
goodness  and  severity  of  Go<l :  on  them  which  fell, 
severity  ;  but  towards  thee,  goodness,  if  thou  conti- 
nue in  his  goodness:  otherwise  thou  also  shalt  be  cut 
olr,"  Rem.  xi.  22.  Astonishing  instance  of  the  power 
and  sovereignty  of  the  Most  High  !  The  same  rod 
wiiich  smote  the  river,  aiid  it  becauje  blood,  smites  the 
rock,  and  it  becomes  streams  of  water.  Who  is  to  be 
fearc  d,  who  is  to  be  trusted,  but  the  God  who  can  do 
these  great  tilings? 

How  honorable  had  it  been  for  Israel,  to  have  had 


iECT.  XIV.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  187 

this  stage  of  tlieir  inarching  through  tlie  wilderness, 
dlr^tiiigui.shecl  I)v  u  nauu'  whicli  betokened  and  com- 
memorated their  lUilhlulness,  obedioiice  iuid  sulimis- 
sion.  Instead  of  this,  the  names  Massali  and  Men- 
bah,  must  transmit  to  all  gtiierations  the  memory  of 
temptation,  chiding,  and  strife.  Happily  the  monu- 
ments of  human  frailty,  folly  and  guilt,  are  also  the  mo- 
numents of  the  divine  patience,  forbearance  and  tender 
mercy.  "  But  the  law  iiad  only  a  shadow  of  good 
things  to  come."  Where  Aloses  leaves  us,  Isaiah  takes 
lis  by  the  hand,  and  leads  us  on  our  way,  pointing  to 
Him  whom  all  prophecy  revealed,  and  saying,  "  BehoKl 
a  King  shall  reign  in  rigliteousness  and  princes  shall 
rule  in  judgment.  And  a  man  shall  be  as  an  hiding 
place  from  the  wind,  and  a  co-vert  from  the  tempest  i 
as  rivers  of  waters  in  a  dry  place  j  as  the  shadow  of  a 
great  rock  in  a  weary  land,"  Isa.  xxxii.  1,  2.  And 
the  apostle  of  the  Gentiles  conducts  our  weary 
wandering  steps  from  the  rock  in  Horeb  to  the  rock 
Christ,  from  whence  issues  the  mighty  "  river,  wliicli 
makes  glad  the  city  of  our  God;"  and  which  affords, 
not  a  transitory,  temporary  refreshment,  but  a  perpe- 
tual never-failing  supply.  '"  Moreover,  brethren,  I 
would  not  that  ye  should  be  ignorant,  how  that  all  our 
fathers  were  under  the  cloud,  and  all  passed  throuo-h 
the  sea ;  and  were'  all  baptised  unto  Moses  in  the 
cloud,  and  in  the  sea  ;  and  did  all  eat  the  same  spiri- 
tual meat,  and  did  all  drink  the  same  spiritual  drink  : 
for  they  drank  of  that  spiritual  rock  which  followed 
them,  and  that  rock  was  Christ,"  1  Cor.  x,  1,  &c. 
The  words  of  the  apostle  insinuate,  that  the  stream 
which  issued  from  the  rock  in  the  wilderness  continued 
to  flow,  and  accompany  their  progress  through  the 
desert  during  the  remainder  of  their  long  pilgrimage, 
till,  being  arrived  at  the  land  of  promise,  a  land 
watered  with  the  dew  of  heaven,  and  the  abun- 
dance of  the  rivers,  a  miraculous  supply  being  unne- 
cessary, was  withdrawn. 


18S  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XIV. 

Thus  was  the  gospel  preached  to  them  of  old  time. 
The  solid  rock  became,  as  it  were,  moveable ;  "  and 
followed  them"  wheresoever  they  went.  The  ada- 
mant was  melted  into  a  pool  for  their  refreshment. 
Blessed  type  of  Him  who  in  his  own  person  accommo- 
dated the  immutability  of  the  divine  nature  to  the  ne- 
cessity and  the  relief  of  human  misery  !  Blessed  type 
of  that  stream  of  blood  flowing  from  the  Lamb  slain 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  and  "  which  taketh 
away  the  sins  of  the  world  !"•  Blessed  type  of  that 
**  consolation  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus"  for  the  weary 
and  heavy  laden,  for  the  guilty  and  the  wretched,  for 
the  faint  and  dying !  Blessed  type  of  that  precious 
stream  which  has  flowed  in  every  age,  and  is  flowing  to 
every  nation  and  people  under  heaven  ;  and  which  ne- 
ver leaves  the  path  of  the  Zion-traveller,  till,  through 
the  midst  of  Jordan,  he  stands  on  the  delightful  shore 
of  the  Canaan  that  is  above,  where  it  becomes  *'  a 
pure  river  of  water  of  life,  clear  as  crystal,  proceeding 
out  of  the  throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb.  Jn  the 
midst  of  the  street  of  it,  and  on  either  side  of  the 
river,  there  is  the  tree  of  life,  which  bears  twelve  man- 
gier of  fruits,  and  yieldelh  her  fruit  every  month;  and 
the  leaves  of  the  tree  are  for  the  healing  of  the  na- 
tions. And  there  shall  be  no  more  curse :  but  the 
throne  of  God  and  of  the  Lamb  siiall  be  in  it :  and  his 
servants  shall  serve  him,  and  they  shall  see  his  face  : 
and  his  name  shall  be  in  their  foreheads.  And  there 
shall  be  no  night  there;  and  they  need  no  candle,  nei- 
ther light  of  the  sun  :  for  the  Lord  God  giveth  them 
light;  and  they  shall  reign  forever  and  ever."  Rev. 
xxiu    1,  &c. 

Li  the  recapitulation  of  this  wonderful  history  in  the 
book  of  Numbers,  an  interesting  and  important  cir- 
cumstance is  recorded,  which  in  Exodus  is  suppressed  ; 
and  which  we  must  here  insert,  that  v;e  may  view  the 
event  complete  in  all  its  parts,  and  that  we  may  (eel 
it  in  all  its  force.     The  miracle  of  extracting  water  from 


LECT.  XIV.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  189 

thf  lOL'k,  wliicli  proved  so  salutary  to  tho  j!poi>!(\  be- 
came fatal  to  Moses  liiinself.  And  this  lit-,  witli  his 
native  candor  and  simplicity,  thus  relates  ;  "  Aud  Mo- 
ses took  the  rod  from  belbre  the  Lord,  as  he  command- 
ed him.  And  Moses  and  Aaron  i^ath*.- red  the  congre- 
gation together  before  the  rock,  and  he  said  unto  them. 
Hear  now,  ye  rebels;  must  we  fe^tch  you  water  oiU  of 
tlie  rock  ?  And  Moses  lifted  up  his  liand,  and  wiili  his 
rod  he  smote  the  rock  twice;  and  the  water  came  out 
abundantly,  and  the  congregation  drank,  and  their 
beasts  also.  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Aloses  and 
Aaron,  Because  ye  believed  me  nol,  to  sanctify  me 
in  the  eyes  of  the  children  of  Israel  ;  therefore  ye 
shall  not  bring  this  congregation  into  the  laud  which  I 
have  given  them,"  Numb.  xx.  9,  ^-c.  For  the  illus- 
tration and  improvement  of  which,  we  beg} oar  atten- 
tion to  the  following  remarks. 

Observe,  first.  The  credit  which  is  due  to  the  sacred 
writers  in  general,  and  to  Moses  in  particular,  fortlieir 
fidelity  and  integrity  in  relating  thos3  particulars  of 
their  temper  and  conduct  which  are  the  object  of  cen- 
sure and  condemnation,  as  well  as  those  which  merit 
applause.  Indeed,  they  do  both  with  tlie^ame  "  siu)- 
plicity  and  godly  sincerity."  They  never  app^'ar  so- 
licitous to  celebrate  their  own  praise,  aud  if  glory  may 
redound  to  God,  and  edification  to  men,  they  honestly 
publish  their  own  shame.  Lmlike  the  generality  of 
mankind,  who  are  perpetually  catching  at  opportuni- 
ties to  introduce  their  dear  selves,  that  they  may  be 
valued  and  admired  :  and,  with  equal  anxiety,  drawing 
a  veil  over  their  errors  and  imperfections.  But  these 
holy  men  delivered  not  their  testimony  "  according  to 
the  will  of  man,"  nor  in  the  spirit  of  the  world  ;  but, 
**  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost." 
And,  with  candid  judges,  this  candor  of  theirs  will  be 
deemed  no  slight  argument  of  their  veracity  in  general, 
and  no  slender  proof  of  the  credibility  of  the  scripture 
history. 


190  History  OF  MOSES.  lect.  xir. 

Secondly,  Remark  the  mixture  of  frailty  and  im- 
perfection vvhicli  enters  into  every  iiuman  character. 
Moses  himself  is  not  faultless.  And  what  is  more  ob- 
servable still,  he  fails  on  the  side  of  his  greatest  excel- 
lency ;  he  is  luiind  weak  there  where  he  seemed  most 
string,  "  Now  the  man  Moses  was  very  meek,  above 
all  tiie  men  which  were  upon  the  face  of  the  earth," 
Numb.  xii.  3.  Nevertheless,  what  saith  the  history  ? 
Fie  loses  temper,  and  speaks  unadvisedly  with  his  lips  ; 
"  Hear  now,  ye  rebels  ;  must  we  fetch  you  water  out 
of  this  rock?"  xx.  10.  He  takes  glory  to  hini.self  in- 
stead of  ascribing  it  to  God :  "  Must  zve  fetch  you 
water  ?"  He  pi'esumptuously  exceeds  his  commission. 
He  lifts  up  his  hand  and  smites  the  rock  (zvice  with  his 
rod,  whereas  he  was  commanded  only  to  speak  unto 
it,  before  the  eyes  of  the  people. 

Seems  it  not  as  if  God  intended  to  write  vanity  and 
shame  on  all  the  glory  of  man,  "  that  no  flesh  should 
glory  in  his  presence  ?"  by  shewing  us  faithful  Abraham 
mistrusting  his  God,  and  seeking  refuge  in  falsehood  : 
the  patient  Job  growing  peevish,  and  **  cursing  his. 
day  :"  the  affectionate  and  zealous  Peter  basely  deny^- 
ing  his  Master  ;  and  the  meek  and  gentle  Moses  wax- 
ing warm,  and  in  his  haste  speaking  disrespectfully  of 
God,  and  unkindly  of  men.  "  Be  not  high  minded, 
but  iear."  "  Let  him  who  thinketh  he  standeth,  take 
iieed  lest  he  fall."  "  Keep  thy  heart  with  all  diligence  j 
lor  out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life,"  Prov.  vi.  23.  '*  Set 
a  watch,  O  Lord,  before  my  mouth,  keep  the  door  of 
my  lips,"  Psalm  cxli.  3. 

Observe,  thirdly.  The  delicacy  and  the  danger  of 
assuming  a  latitude  and  a  liberty  in  sacred  things.  In 
vvljat  concerns  the  conduct  of  human  life,  and  our 
intercourse  one  with  another  as  the  citizens  of  this 
world,  many  things  must  be  left  to  be  governed  by 
occasion  and  discretion  >  but,  in  what  relates  to  the 
immediate  worship  of  God,  and  where  the  mind  of 
the  Lord    has  been  clearly   made  known,  to  assume 


LECT.    XIV.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  191 

and  exercise  a  dispensinp;-  power  is  criminal  hikI  liaz- 
ardous.  The  tabernacle  must  he  constructed,  to  tlie 
minutest  pin  and  loop,  according  to  the  pattern  ddiv- 
cred  in  flu'  mount.  If  Uzzali  presume  to  [)nt  forth 
his  hand  to  su|)port  the  tottennt;  ark,  it  is  at  his  peril. 
A  holy  and  a  jealous  God  will  be  served  only  by  the 
persons  and  in  the  manner  which  he  himself  has  ap- 
pointed ;  and  the  intruder  into  sacred  ofiices  and  em- 
])loymenls  is  ready  to  be  broken  in  upon  in  hot  dis- 
pleasure. Has  God  said,  "  ^y^e^/t  to  the  rock."  Who 
Jias  the  boldness  to  st?ike  it?  Moses  dares  to  do  it; 
and  his  rashness  forfeits  his  title  to  a  part  and  lot  in 
the  promised  inheritance.  Into  Canaan  he  shall  never 
enter,  but  only  see  it  at  a  distance  with  his  eyes.  The 
otilsnding,  chiding,  murmuring  congregation  is  pitied, 
forgiven  and  relieved.  The  offending,  hasty,  pre- 
sumptuous prophet  is  punished.  "  Our  God  is  a  con- 
sumino:  fne."  "It  is  a  fearful  thins:  to  fall  into  the 
bands  of  the  living  God,  Wlio  can  understand  his 
errors  ?  Cleanse  thou  me  from  secret  fau'ts.  Keep 
back  thy  servant  also  from  presumptuous  sins,  let  them 
not  have  dominion  over  me  ;  then  shall  I  be  upright, 
and  I  shall  be  innocent  from  the  great  transgression." 
Remark,  in  the  fourth  place,  The  rashness  and  folly 
of  man  shall  not,  cannot  render  the  purpose  of  God  of 
none  effect.  A  whole  people  shall  not  be  permitted 
to  perish  for  thirst  because  the  prescribed  mode  of  re- 
lief has  not  been  exactly  followed.  Though  the  rock 
be  stricken,  instead  of  being  spoken  unto,  it  shall  not 
fail  to  yield  the  promised  fountain  of  water.  Aloses 
is  frail,  but  God  is  good.  There  has  prevailed,  since 
the  beginning,  a  strange  contention  between  the  folly 
and  perve.'seness  of  the  fallen  apostate  creature,  and 
the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  the  gracious  Creator. 
And,  glory  be  to  God,  our  evil  is  overcome  of  his 
good.  And  when  all  struggle  and  opposition  are  at 
an  end,  when  the  will  of  (xod  shall  finally  prevail, 
"  and  every  high  thought  shall  be  brought  into  captivity 


192  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XIV. 

to  the  will  of  Christ,"  it  shall  then  be  found,  "  that  the 
wrath  of  man"  has  all  along  been  "  working  the  righ- 
teousness of  God  ;  that  the  elementary  strife  which 
was  permitted  to  take  place  in  the  natural  world  ;  the 
jaring,  discordant  passions  which  seemed  to  convulse 
and  disturb  the  moral  government  of  God,  and  even 
the  internal  devices  of  the  powers  of  darkness,  were  all, 
without  their  design,  nay,  contrary  to  their  intention, 
carrying  on  the  great  |)lans  of  the  divine  providence  to 
their  consummation.  Glorious,  transporting  thought  ! 
I  will  henceforth  command  my  troubled  soul  into  peace. 
I  vvili  calmly  wait  the  issue,  and  leave  it  to  the  great 
God,  in  his  own  time  and  way,  to  explain  tlje  reasons 
of  his  conduct,  and  fully  vindicate  his  ways  to  men. 
The  troubles  which  I  see,  the  troubles  which  I  feel, 
the  troubles  which  I  fear,  though  tiicy  may  come  nigh, 
shall  not  overwhelm  my  soul ;  "  1  shall  not  be  afraid 
when  I  hear  of  evil  tidings  j  my  heart  is  fixed,  trusting 
in  the  Lord,"  Psalm  cxii.  7.  "  We  know  that  all 
things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God, 
to  them  who  are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose," 
Rom,  viii.  ^8.  *'  For  our  light  afflction,  uiiich  is  but 
tor  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  lar  more  exceeding  aad 
an  eternal  weight  of  glory,"  '2  Cor.  iv.  17- 

Fifthly,  When  we  behold  a  holy  and  righteous  God 
thus  severely  punishing,  what  may  be  deemed,  by- 
some,  a  slight  offence,  in  one  of  the  dearest  and  best 
of  his  children,  let  none  dare  to  trifle  with  his  justice. 
It  Moses,  in  one  rash  moment,  by  one  unadvised  step, 
incurred  a  displeasure  which  he  could  never  remove, 
and  forfeited  an  inheritance,  which  he  never  was 
able  to  recover,  what  hasl  thou,  O  man,  to  expect, 
whose  whole  life  has  been  an  accumulation  of  ofleuce; 
has  been  the  addition  only  of  sinfulness  to  weakness, 
and  of  presumption  to  folly  .?  "  If  the  righteous  scarce- 
ly be  saved,  where  shall  the  ungodly  and  the  sinner  ap- 
pear," 1  Peter  iv.  18.  Take  care  iiow  you  estimate 
the  malignity,  guilt  and  danger  of  siu,  by  the  erroneous 


LECr.  XIV.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  193 

and  fluctuating  standard  of  your  own  weak  understand- 
ing, or  still  weaker  passions.  Not  accordini]^  to  these, 
nor  I  he  maxims  of  the  world,  nor  tiie  prejudices  of  a 
misguided  spirit  ;  but  by  a  steadier  rule,  by  an  un- 
changing law,  thou  shalt  be  judged,  and  finally  justi- 
fied or  condemned.  If  Moses  lost  an  inheritance  in 
an  earthly  Canaan  lor  neglecting  to  give  glory  to  God 
in  one  instance,  tremble  to  think  of  being  eternally'' 
excluded  fro;u  "  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  li-n-t," 
for  ten  thousand  otfences  of  the  same  nature.  Beware 
of  reckoning  any  transgression  small,  any  sin  venial, 
anv  temptation  contemptible.  Behold  the  mighty 
fallen,  ami  be  humble. 

It  is  truly  aifecting  to  find  Moses  in  the  sequel  ear- 
nestly entreaiing  a  remission  of  the  sentence,  but  en- 
treatmg  in  vain  ;  and,  when  unable  by  supplication  to 
jirevail,  submissively  resigning  himself  to  the  will  of 
God.  But  the  world  has  seen  a  still  more  awful  de- 
monstration of  God's  displeasure  at  sin.  AVhen  the 
Lord  laid  upon  the  head  of  the  great  atonement  "^  the 
iniquit}'  of  us  all;  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  bruise  him, 
and  put  him  to  grief."  "  God  spared  not  his  own  Son, 
but  gave  him  up  for  us  all."  Is  it  possible  to  conceive 
a  motive  so  cogent  to  abstain  from  evil,  and  even  from 
the  appearance  of  it;  and  to  loathe  and  put  olf  from 
us  the  garment  spotted  with  the  tlesh  .? 

But  again,  oneoifence,  though  it  may  provoke  the 
anger  and  call  down  the  chastisement  of  a  holy  God, 
brei-.ks  not  otf  <!ll  intercourse,  and  forever,  between 
him  and  a  good  man.  With  the  firmness  of  a  wise 
and  juat  father,  he  denounces  the  punishment  and  in- 
ilicts  it.  With  the  tenderness  and  love  of  a  gracious 
and  relenting  parent,  he  carries  on  the  correspondence; 
and  even  admits  the  otfending  child  to  closer  inti- 
macy, and  to  familiarity  more  endearing.  For  the 
crreat  God  is  not  like  them  who  mar  and  embitter  their 
pardon  with  hard  conditions,  cruel  upbraidings,  and 
mortifying  recollections;  and  who  plainly  shew,  that 

VOL.   II.  2    li 


194  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XIV 

thouo^h  they  may  be  capable  of  forgiving,  they  kuovr 
not  what  it  is  to  bury  injuries  in  everlasting  forgetful- 
ness.  The  conduct  of  Moses  too,  under  the  weight 
of  this  awful  displeasure,  is  amiable  and  instructive. 
He  mutters  not,  with  sullen  Cain,  "  my  punishment 
is  greater  than  I  can  bear;"  he  sinks  not  into  dejec- 
tion;  he  replies  not  in  resentment.  While  he  depre- 
cates tlie  penalty,  he  attempts  not  to  extenuate  the 
guilt  of  his  crime;  and  though  well  assured  he  is  not 
to  have  the  honor  of  conducting  Israel  into  Canaai?, 
nor  the  happiness  of  enjoying  a  personal  possession  in 
that  promised  inheritance,  yet  he  withdraws  himself 
from  no  particular  duty,  relaxes  not  his  diligence, 
cools  not  in  his  zeal :  he  labors  to  the  last,  does  what  he 
can,  though  he  be  not  permitted  to  do  what  he  would  ; 
he  goes  before  Israel  to  the  land  of  promise,  though  ac- 
cess into  it  was  denied  him.  This,  as  much  as  any 
thing  in  his  history,  marks  his  character  and  evinces  the 
greatness  of  his  soul.  And  this  teaches  a  lesson  of 
no  mean  importance  in  friendship  among  men,  name- 
ly, to  cultivate  with  diligence  and  assiduity  the  chari- 
ties which  we  have  in  common,  and  to  suffer  those 
things  to  rest  and  sleep,  which,  if  stirred  and  awaken- 
ed, are  likely  to  disturb  and  separate  us. 

It  is  not  the  design  of  Providence  that  we  should 
think  exactly  the  same  way  on  all  points.  But,  shall 
I  agree  with  my  brother  in  nothing,  because  we  hap- 
pened to  differ  in  one  thing  ^ 

I  detain  you  till  I  have  made  only  one  remark  more 
upon  the  whole  history.  The  distress  of  the  cattle 
for  want  of  water,  is  mentioned  as  a  circumstance  of 
importance  both  in  the  books  of  Exodus  and  Num- 
bers, and  it  is  especially  attended  to  in  the  miraculous 
relief  which  Heaven  provided.  Is  the  great  God  de- 
graded, when  he  is  represented  as  *'  caring  for  oxen, 
and  feeding  the  ravens,  and  hearing  the  young  lions 
when  they  cry  ?"  No,  no;  these  minuter  views  of  his 
providential  care  and   kindness,  endear  him  but  th« 


LECT.  XIV.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  1 9«5 

more  to  the  undeistanfliiig  that  discerns,  and  the 
heart  that  feels.  I  know  not  a  more  tender  stroke  of 
the  pathetic  eloquence  than  that  wliich  we  have  in 
the  [)ro[)hi.'cy  of  Jonah,  when  God  extended  mercy  in 
a  manner  peculiar  to  himself,  to  Nineveh,  that  great 
and  sinful  city.  "Then  said  the  Lord,  Thou  hast  had 
pitv  on  the  gourd  for  the  which  thou  hast  not  la- 
bored, neither  madest  it  grow,  which  came  Uj)  in  a 
night,  and  perished  in  a  night :  and  should  not  1  spare 
Nineveh,jthat  great  city,  wherein  are  more  than  three- 
score thousand  persons  that  cannot  discern  between 
their  right  hand  and  their  left  hand,  and  also  much  cat- 
tle .?"  Jonah  vi.    10,   11. 

One  stage  more  will  bring  us  with  Israel  to  the  foot 
of  Sinai,  to  observe  and  to  improve  one  of  the  most 
notable  dispensations  of  Providence  upon  record; 
"  The  giving  of  the  law."  But  here  let  us  pause, 
with  devout  acknowledgment  of  that  bountiful  hand, 
which  fed  the  seed  of  Abraham  immediately  h*om  the 
clouds  for  forty  years  together;  and  which  feeds  us, 
through  rather  a  longer  process,  by  blending  and  com- 
pounding the  qualities  and  influences  of  earth,  air, 
fire  and  water.  "While  we  adore  the  providential  care 
which  refreshed  Israel  by  streams  from  the  rock,  let  us 
rejoice  together,  that  it  refrehes  us  by  keeping  our 
rivers  ever  flowing,  our  fountains  constantly  supplied, 
and  the  clouds  of  our  atmosphere,  in  their  season, 
always  impregnated  with  the  rain  and  the  dew. 
**  With  the  bread  that  perishetb,"  gracious  God ! 
grant  us  that  "  which  endureth  to  litis  everlasting." 
Amen. 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  XV. 

Thai  came  Amalek,  and  fought  xvith  Israel  in  Rephidim. 
And  Moses  said  iinto  Joshua,  Choose  us  out  men,  and 
go  out,  ^fight  with  Amalek :  to-nwrrozo  I  ivill  stand 
on  the  top  of  the  hill  with  the  rod  of  God  in  mine 
hand.  So  Joshua  did  as  Moses  had  said  to  him,  and 
fought  ivith  Amaleli.  And  Moses,  Aaron  and  Hur 
went  up  to  the  top  of  (he  hill.  And  it  came  to  pass  rvhen 
Moses  held  up  his  Iiand,  that  Israel  prevailed  :  and 
zvhen  he  let  down  his  liand,  Amalek  prevailed.  But 
Closes'* s  hands  were  heavy  :  and  they  took  a  stone  and 
put  it  under  him,  and  he  sat  thereon  :  and  Aaron  and 
Hur  stayed  up  his  hands,  the  one  on  the  one  side,  and 
the  other  on  the  other  side  ;  and  his  hands  were  steady 
until  the  going  down  of  the  sun.  And  Joshua  discom- 
fited Amalek  and  his  people  zvith  the  edge  of  the  sword 
....Exodus  xvii,  8.... 13. 

NOTHING  can  be  more  afflicting  to  a  liiimanc  and 
serious  mind,  than  to  reflect  on  that  strife  and 
contention  wliich  have  in  every  age  delns-ed  the  world 
with  human  blood.  Who  could  believe,  if  all  history 
did  not  prove  it,  and  who  can  think  of  it  without  hor- 
ror, that  men  should  be  continually  lying  in  wiiit,  like 
beasts  of  prey,  to  catch  and  devour  men;  that  the 
strong,  the  cunning  and  the  fierce  should  be  forever  on 
the  watch,  to  take  advantage  of  the  weak,  the  simple 
and  the  gentle  ?  And  must  it  be  ?  Father  of  mercies  ■ 
must  it  needs  be,  that  war  should  continue  to  wasJi:> 
the  nations  ?  Shall  the  earth  be  forever  a  field  of  blood  ? 


LECT.  XV.  HISTORY    OF  MOSES.  197 

Must  the  peace  of  private  families,  and  the  repose  of 
kingfloms,  be  elernally  disimbed  by  lust  and  pride, 
avarice  and  ambition,  envy  and  revenge  ?  Blessed 
God  !  send  forth  the  Spirit  of  thy  Son  into  tlie  hearts 
of  men.  Prince  of  peace!  command  this  troubled 
ocean  into  a  cahn.  Spirit  of  love!  put  a  full  end  to 
bitterness  and  wrath.  Subdue  this  carnal  mind,  which 
is  enmity  against  Gud.  Glorious  gospel  of"  salvation  ! 
as  thou  bringest  good- will  from  God  to  men,  restore 
good-will  to  men  among  themselves. 

It  is  difficult  to  say  whether  men  sufler  most  from 
their  own  folly,  or  from  the  cruelty  and  injustice  of 
others.  We  generally  find,  that  when  evil  from  with- 
out would,  for  a  while,  perni.it  wretched  mortals  to 
breathe  and  be  at  peace,  they  perversely  become  sel(- 
tormentors,  and  ingeniously  contrive  sources  of  vexa- 
tion to  themselves.  And,  which  is  the  greater  evil  of 
the  two  ?  That,  undoubtedly,  of  which  we  are  the  au- 
thors to  ourselves.  We  have,  then,  to  encounter  an 
enemy  from  whom  we  cannot  hope  to  escape,  and 
whom  we  are  unable  to  overcome.  From  a  conflict 
with  Amalek,  Israel  comes  off  with  both  credit  and 
comfort ;  but  a  strife  of  discontent,  impatience  and  re- 
bellion agamst  God,  must  of  necessity  issue  in  shame 
and  loss. 

God,  rich  in  mercy,  slow  to  anger,  and  of  great  kind- 
ness, has  graciously  forgiven  the  murmuring  at  Horeb, 
and  extracted  water  from  the  rock,  for  the  relief  of  his 
people.  But  this  woe  is  no  sooner  past  than  another 
overtakes  them.  *'  Then  came  Amalek,  and  fought 
with  Israel  in  Rephidim."  The  transaction  recorded 
here,  so  simply  antl  uncircumstantially,  is  mentioned 
again  in  Deuteronomy,  with  many  ^circumstances  of 
aggravation,  which  greatly  increase  our  deJ'estation  of 
this  conduct  in  Amalek,  and  explain  the  deep  resent- 
ment which  a  holy  and  righteous  God  himself  expresses 
npon  the  occasion,  and  wiiich  by  a  positive  statute  he 
transmits  to  Israel.     "  Remember  what  Amalek  did 


198  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XV, 

unto  thee  by  the  wa}-,  when  ye  were  come  forth  cut  of 
Egypt  j  how  he  met  thee  by  the  way,  and  smote  the 
hindmost  of  thee,  even  all  that  were  fieeble  behind 
thee,  when  thou  was  faint  and  weary  5  and  he  feared 
not  God.  Therefore  it  shall  be,  when  the  Lord  thy 
God  hath  given  thee  rest  from  all  thine  enemies  round 
about,  in  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee 
for  an  inheritance  to  possess  it,  that  thou  shall  blot 
out  the  remembrance  01"  Amalek  from  under  heaven  ; 
thou  shalt  not  forget  it,"  Deut.  xxv.  17,  IS,  19- 

Amalek,  the  father  of  this  nation,  as  we  learn  from 
Genesis  xxxvi.  12.  was  grandson  to  Esau,  and  son  to 
Eliphaz,  by  a  concubine  named  Timna.  The  Amal- 
ekites  indeed  are  mentioned  much  earlier  in  scripture, 
even  in  the  days  of  Abraham,  when  Chederlaomer  is 
represented,  with  his  victorious  army,  as  ravaging  all 
their  country.  But  it  is  well  known  that  the  sacred 
writers,  when  treating  of  various  periods,  give  appella- 
tions to  regions  and  countries  which  did  not  belong  to 
them  till  ages  afterwards,  but  by  which  they  were  bet- 
ter known  at  the  time  when  the  historian  wrote.  They 
possessed  a  large  tract  of  country,  extending  from  the 
confines  of  Idumea  to  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Red 
Sea ;  and  from  their  neighborhood  to  and  commerce 
with  Phoenicia,  they  are  by  some  called  Phoenicians. 

Immediately  on  their  passing  through  the  Red  Sea, 
it  behoved  the  children  of  Israel  to  enter  into  this  ter- 
ritory, on  their  way  to  Canaan.  And  probably  the 
paternal  relation  which  subsisted  between  them  and 
Amalek,  encouraged  the  posterity  of  Jacob  to  advance 
on  their  w  ay  with  greater  confidence.  **  It  is  the 
land  of  our  brethren  through  which  we  are  to  pass ;" 
would  they  say,  one  to  another.  "  The  heart  of  Esau 
himself  relented,  when  he  saw  his  brother  Jacob,  re- 
turn, encumbered  with  a  train  of  women  and  children 
and  cattle.  He  forgot  his  resentments  ;  he  became 
the  protector  of  the  man  whcm  he  had,  in  the  hour 
of  passion,  vowed  to  destroy.     The  injury  done  him 


LECr.    XV.  HISIORY  OK  MOSES.  199 

in  the  matter  of  the  birth-right,  and  of  the  blessing,  he 
generously  forgavt*.  Surely  the  posterity  of  Esau, 
atter  many  generations,  will  not  revive  a  quarrel  which 
is  extinguished  and  f(jrgotten,  first  in  the  reconciliation, 
and  then  in  the  death  of  the  original  parties  to  it. 
After  a  servitude  so  long  and  so  bitter  in  Egypt,  we 
shall  at  length  find  a  time  and  a  place  to  breathe  ;  and 
the  .vQothings  of  fraternal  love  sliall  console  us  lor  the 
rigors  of  oppression." 

Vain  expectation  !  What  foe  so  dreadful  as  a  brother 
disafiected  !  Egypt  smote  with  the  rod  ;  Anialek  smites 
vviih  the  sword  ;  he  basely,  cruelly  seizes  the  moment 
of  Israel's  languor,  weakness  and  dejection,  and  at- 
tempts to  crush  those  whom  a  sanguinary  tyrant  had 
persecuted,  and  whom  Heaven  itself  iiad  bruised. 
The  cowardice  of  this  behavior  is  equal  to  the  un kind- 
ness of  it.  Had  they  boldly  appeared  at  the  first,  to 
dispute  the  passage  of  the  Red  Sea,  and  to  repel  by 
force  of  arms  the  invasion  of  their  country,  their  con- 
duct, though  ungenerous  and  unkmd,  had  been  in- 
genuous and  manly.  But,  either  through  fear  or  policy, 
they  permit  Israel  to  advance,  they  watch  the  moment 
of  their  difficulty  and  distress,  and,  like  dastards,  steal 
upon  the  rear  of  an  army  whose  front  they  dared  not 
to  oppose. 

Neither  good  quahties  nor  bad  are  found  single  in 
the  human  breast.  And,  in  the  nation  whose  cha- 
racter is  now  the  object  of  our  censure,  we  find  a  com- 
bination of  the  worst  qualities  of  which  our  nature  is 
capable,  all  originating  in  the  deficiency  of  one  great 
principle,  which  is  at  the  root  of  all  the  evil  which 
men  commit,  **  he  feared  not  God."  Why  did  Ama- 
lek  rake  up  the  ashes  of  an  ancient  grudge  ?  "  He 
feared  not  God."  Why  did  he  join  to  afflict  the  mi- 
serable,  and  overwhelm  the  oppressed }  "  He  feared 
not  God."  AVhy  did  he  meanly  attack  the  wea- 
ker and  more  vulnerable  part  of  his  adversary,  in 
tiope  of  safety  and  impunity  .''  *'  He  liL'ared  not  God." 


SOO  HISTORY  OF    MOSES.  LECT.  XV. 

Wherefore  in  general,  are  men  subtle,  revengeful, 
cuntiing  and  selfish?  They  "fear  not  God;"  thev 
"  liaiden  themselves  against  him,"  and  yet  think 
"  to  prosper."  Tiiey  "  love  not  their  brother  whom 
they  have  seen,"  because  they  are  wilfully  ignorant  of 
or  hate  God,  "  whom  they  have  not  seen." 

Such  is  the  union  which  Providence  has  established 
between  all  the  parts  of  the  natural  and  of  the  politi- 
cal body,  that  the  weakness  or  distress  of  one  member 
is  the  infirmity  and  suffering  of  the  whole.  The  hind- 
most and  the  feeble  of  Israel  are  smitten  ;  the  fore- 
most and  the  strong  feel  and  immediately  resent  it. 
"  And  Moses  said  unto  Joshua,  Choose  out  men,  and 
go  out,  fight  with  Amaltk :  to-morrow  I  will  stand  on 
the  top  of  the  hill,  with  the  rod  of  God  in  mine  hand." 
We  have  here  a  combination  which  ought  never  to  be 
separated,  and  in  which  safety  and  success  are  ever  to 
]>e  found,  namely,  the  acknowledgment  of  Heaven, 
and  the  use  of  appointed  means,  the  sword  in  the 
hand  of  Joshua,  the  rod  in  that  of  Moses,  the  em- 
battled host  below  in  the  valley,  the  intercessor  with 
God  "  wrestling,"  and  "  making  supplication"  upon 
the  hill.  In  vam  had  Moses  prayed  if  Joshua  had 
not  fought.  Destitute  of"  the  effectual  fervent  prayer 
of  the  righteous  man,"  the  skill  and  courage  of  the 
warrior  had  failed  before  the  enemy.  The  rod  of  God  I 
in  how  many  different  services  is  it  employed !  how  many 
various  purposes  does  it  answer!  It  smites  the  river  of 
Egypt,  and  it  becomes  blood.  It  smites  the  rock  in 
Horcb,  and  it  sends  forth  a  stream  of  water.  It  is 
extended  towards  heaveu,  on  the  top  of  tue  hill,  and 
Ama'.ck  is  destrcjyed.  Suikingand  instructive  type  of 
that  "  rod  oi"  God's  mouth"  wlicrevvith  "  lie  slays  the 
wicked:"  of  tiiat  sword  of  the  Spirit,  "  which  is  the 
word  of  God  :  of  that  hammer,  vvliich  breaketh  the 
rock  ni  pieces  :"  of  that  gospel,  which  is  "  a  savour  of 
CjoI  in  them  that  believe,  and  in  them  that  perii-h." 
Observe  how  God  appoints  to  every  man  his  station 


LECr.    XV.  HISTORY  or  MOSES*  itOl 

of  usefulness  and  importance.  It  was  not  for  want 
either  of  zeal  or  courage,  that  Moses  takes  his  post  at 
a  di-lance  on  the  hill.  It  is  not  for  want  of  piety, 
that  Joshua  leads  on  the  armies  of  Israel  on  the  plain. 
The  mistakes  and  miscarriages  of  the  world  arise  frora 
the  weakness  and  wickedness  of  men  ;  at  one  time 
over-rating  their  talents,  and  thrusting  tliemselves  for- 
ward into  situations  for  which  they  are  wholly  unfit  ; 
and  at  another,  through  timidity  shrnikmi]^  from  the  du- 
ties of  that  station  which  Providence  lias  assigned 
tijem  ;  and  a  third,  treacherously,  through  some  bias 
of  private  interest,  passion  or  party,  selling  the  trust 
committed  to  them,  to  the  foe.  Happily  in  the 
case  before  us,  the  bead  which  directed,  and  the  hand 
wliich  executed,  were  in  perfect  unison.  The  spirit 
that  t'ought,  and  the  spirit  that  [)rayed,  were  one. 

Let  us  first  ascend  the  hill  with  Moses  and  his  two 
friends,  and  adopt  the  feelings  of  men,  who  at  once 
felt  ior  the  public  cause,  were  not  without  well-found- 
ed apprehensions  from  the  common  enemy,  and  at 
the  same  lime  feared  and  trusted  the  Lord.  Mose» 
has  given  his  orders  to  Joshua,  and  he  has  so  far  done 
well :  but  to  stop  there  had  been  doing  nothing.  He 
has  set  the  means  to  work,  and  now  he  can  confident- 
ly look  up  to  Heaven  for  that  blessing  which  can  give 
>.uc(.;ess  to  the  means.  He  ascends  to  meet  God,  but 
ascends  not  alone.  As  wickedness  seeks  to  fortify  and 
to  keep  itself  in  countenance  by  the  society  of  the 
wicked,  so  the  fire  of  devotion  keeps  itself  alive  bj'-the 
sacred  communication  of  a  kindled  flame.  The 
hands  of  Moses  alone  had  soon  become  feeble,  and 
iiiust  have  drojjped  down,  and  Amaiek  finally  have 
prevailed  ;  supported  by  Aaron  and  Hur,  they  conti- 
nue "  steady  till  the  going  down  of  the  sun ;"  and  Ama- 
1(  k  and  his  people  are  discomfited  with  the  edge  of  the 
sword. 

Of  Aaron,  one  of  the  companions  of  Moses  upon 
the  mount,  we  know  much ;  of  Hur,  the  other,  the 

VOL.   II.  2  C 


202  KisxoRY  or  moses.  lect.  xv» 

scripture  account  is  more  sparing.  Those  who  are 
never  at  a  loss  so  long  as  lancy  and  invention  can 
create,  make  him  the  son  of  Caleb,  and  the  husband 
of  William,  the  sister  of  Moses  and  Aaron.  It  ap- 
pears from  the  history,  that  he  was  the  father  of  Uri ; 
and  the  grandfather  of  Bezaleel,  the  famous  artist, 
employed,  by  special  endowment  and  appointment  of 
Heaven,  tor  the  construction  of  the  more  cinious  and 
costly  fiuniture  of  the  tabernacle  and  sanctuary.  13iit 
It  is  of  n]ore  importance  tor  us  to  know  him,  and  for 
him  to  be  reported,  as  a  person  of  the  first  quality, 
and  his  quality  supported  by  that  which  gives  rank  its 
highest  lustre,  genuine  piety.  Moses  left  him,  in  com- 
n)ission  with  Aaron,  tojudge  tlic  people,  when  a  short 
while  after  this  he  went  up  alone  into  Mount  Sinai  to 
meet  God.  This  is  ars;ument  sufficient  of  his  hi  oh 
rank  ;  and  the  assumption  of  him  to  assist  his  devotioa 
in  Mount  Horeb,  while  Israel  was  engaged  with  Ama- 
lek,  is  a  proof  equally  clear  and  decisive  of  his  ex- 
ir.ioidrnary  piety. 

Behold  then  the  man  of  God,  supported  and  en- 
couraged by  two  such  companions,  discovering  all  the 
honest  anxiety  of  the  patriot,  together  with  all  the 
confidence  and  fervor  of  the  saint;  with  his  eyes  ea- 
geiiy  b'-nt  on  the  conflicting  armies  in  the  plain  be- 
low ;  and  his  hands,  with  his  heart,  lifted  up  to  God  in 
the  heavens,  from  whom  his  help  came.  It  was  clear- 
ly th;-  intention  of  Providence,  that  the  deliverance 
w^hich  should  be  vvrouglit  for  Israel  on  this  oc- 
casion, though  not  wholly  independent  on  the  use  of 
m-ans,  should  evidently  appvar  to  flow  chiefly  and  on- 
ly from  the  interposition  and  grace  of  Heaven.  '*  It 
came  to  pass  when  Moses  held  up  his  hand,  that  Is- 
rael prevailed ;  and  when  he  let  down  his  hand,  that 
Amaiek  prevailed." 

This  is  the  first  battle  which  Israel  was  called  to 
fight ;  and  it  was  designed  to  be  a  model  of  all  that 
should  follow  i  of  assured  success  to  them,  and  victo- 


LECT.  XV.  IIISTORV    or  MOSES.  205' 

ry  over  all  their  enemies,  provided  they  constantly  ac- 
knowledged God,  with  hands  continually  lilted  up  lu 
hi^aven.  Anil  it  liaji  undoubtedly  a  lint  her  view, 
namelv.  to  represent  in  general,  the  powerful  and  cer- 
tain eii'eet  ol"  prayer  to  God,  and  ot'  a  sense  of  depen- 
dence ui)<)n  him  ;  to  shew  that  our  strength  is  in  exae-t 
proportion  to  the  perception  of  our  own  weakness,  and 
to  our  confidence  in  almighty  grace.  The  lesson  in- 
.iculcated  in  this  history  is  the  same  which  Christ  taught 
his  disciples  in  the  parable  of  the  unjust  judge  and  the 
importunate  widow,  "  That  men  ought  always  tj 
pray,  and  not  to  faint,"  Luke  xviii.  1.  if  importuni- 
ty and  the  love  of  ease  have  power  to  constrain  a  man 
todo  his  duty,  though  he  have  no  inclination  to  it, 
how  much  more  certain  the  effect  of  earnestness  and 
importunity  with  the  Hearer  of  prayer,  the  Father  of 
mercies  ;  w  ho  is  ever  more  ready  to  grant  than  man 
to  ask.?  '•'  If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give 
good  gifts  unto  your  children,  how  much  more  shall, 
your  Father  which  is  In  heaven  give  good  things  to 
them  that  ask  him,"  Matt.   vii.   II. 

Have  you  considered  then,  my  christian  fiiend, 
wuat  a  powerful  instrument  is  put  into  your  hand, 
mighty  as  the  rod  of  God  in  the  hand  of  Moses,  where- 
with he  did  wonders  ?  "  Elias  was  a  man  subject  to 
like  passions  as  we  are,  and  he  prayed  earnestly  that 
it  might  not  rain ;  and  it  rained  not  on  the  earth  for 
the  space  of  three  years  and  six  months.  And  he 
prayed  again,  and  the  heaven  gave  rain,  and  the  earth 
brought  forth  her  fruit,"  James  v.  17,  18.  Surely- 
then  "  the  effectual  fervent  prayer  of  a  righteous  man 
availeth  much,"  James  v.  16.  God  has  not  given 
you  assurance  of  success  in  all  your  undertakings,  but 
he  has  bestowed  upon  you  the  privilege,  and  promised 
you  the  spirit  of  prayer,  by  which  you  shall  certainly 
obtain  one  of  two  things;  either  that  blessing  from 
above  upon  your  honest  endeavors,  which  maketh  rich, 
v.diich  insures  success,  and  makes  it  durable ;  or,  that 


204  HISTORY  OF    MOSES.  LECT.  XV. 

resignation  of  spirit,  and  submission  to  the  will  of  God, 
which  subdue  misfjrtune,  and  which  turn  calamity  and 
di>appointment  themselves  into  advantage.  God  iias 
not  given  thee,  my  friend  the  promise  of  riches ;  but 
he  has  given  thee,  what  is  much  better,  the  spirit  of 
grace  and  supplication  to  form  thy  soul  to  content- 
nient.  You  have  no  security  against  [)ain  and  sorrow  ; 
"but  you  have  that  which  produces  patience  and  forti- 
tude. You  cannot  promise  yourself  long  life;  but  ha- 
bitual intercourse  witk  God  by  prayer  overcomes  the 
fear  of  death. 

Glorious  privilege!  Whatever  my  situation  in  hfe 
be,  here  is  something  to  improve  it,  if  good;  some- 
thing to  mend  it,  if  evil.  Here  is  the  ornament  and 
essence  of  prosperity,  the  cure  and  cordial  of  adversi- 
ty. Here  is  the  guardian  and  the  guide  of  life  ;  the 
svveetner  and  subduerof  death.  Prayer  brings  all  the 
glorious  perfections  of  Deity  into  our  j)ossession.  "  If 
any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God,  that 
giveth  to  all  men  liberally,  and  upbraideth  not :  and 
it  shall  be  given  him,"  James  i.  5.  *'  W  hen  I  am  weak, 
then  am  I  strong  ;"  *'  for  I  can  do  all  things  through 
Christ  which  strengtheneth  me."  Is  the  thorn  not 
removed,  the  messenger  of  Satan  not  rebuked,  though 
the  Lord  be  thrice  besought  that  they  may  depart  ? 
No  matter.  Is  it  not  said,  "  My  grace  is  sufiicient  for 
ihee  :  for  my  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness  } 
Most  gladly  therefore  will  I  rather  glory  in  my  infir- 
mities, that  the  power  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  me," 
2  Cor.  xii.  9. 

But  where  are  the  bands  which  never  hang  down-? 
Those  of  Moses  himself  became  heavy.  *' The  s[)irit 
indeed  is  willing,  but  the  flesh  is  weak."  Fatal  omen 
to  Israel !  Amalek  instantly  gains  the  ascendant.  15ut 
happily,  Moses  was  not  alone  in  the  mount :  "  And 
they  took  a  stone,  and  put  it  under  him,  and  he  sat 
thereon  ;  and  Aaron  and  Hur  stayed  up  his  hands, 
the  one  on  the  one  side,  and  the  other  on  the  other 


LECT.  XV.  IIISTOR-i'  OF   MOSES.  205 

side  ;  and  his  hands  were  sficady  until  the  going  down 
vt'  the  sun."  ''As  iron  .4iuij)eneth  iron,  so  a  man 
sharpenetli  the  ct>unteiiaiu;e  ol"  his  iViend ;"  and  so 
devotion  kindles  and  kt-eps  alive  devotion.  Secret 
]>rayer,  like  the  melody  of  one.  sweet-toned  voice  steal- 
in^-  upon  the  ear,  gently  wiifts  the  soul  to  heaven  :  so- 
cial vNorship,  as  a  tullchoruj  of  liarinonized  sounds, 
))ierces  the  sky,  and  raises  a  •^yreat  multitude  of  kindred 
spirits  to  the  bright  regions  of  everlasting  love,  and 
places  them  together  before  the  throne  of  God.  1  low 
happy  are  Aaron  and  Hur,  in  lending  this  aid  to  the 
wearied  hands  of  Moses,  and  to  the  declining  interest 
of  the  Israel  of  God  !  How  happy  is  Moses  in  being 
thus  supported!  But  there  is  an  Intercessor  whose 
hands  never  hang  down,  wlcse  fervor  never  cools, 
whose  medUalion  never  iails,  v\  hose  attention  is  never 
relaxed.  "  ^\'e  have  an  advrocate  with  the  Fa!^her, 
Jesus  Christ,  the  righteous.*'  Him  "  the  Father 
heareth  always:"  *' as  a  Prince  he  hath  power  and 
prevaileth." 

Let  us  now  turn  our  eyes  to  the  struggle  in  the  val- 
ley below.  '1  here  we  meet  '^  the  confused  noise  of 
the  warrior,  and  garments  rolled  in  blood  :"  the  alter- 
nate shouts  of  acclamation  andltriumplj,  mingling  with 
the  piercing  shrieks  ol  the  woi:nded,  and  the  groans 
of  tlie  dying.  Israel,  now  hv.rrying  on  to  victory, 
and  anon  tlying  before  the  insulting  foe.  The  eve  nt 
i'or  a  while  is  awfully  in  doubt;  turning  upon  the 
strength  and  feebleness,  not  of  thousands,  but  of  one 
single  arm;  decided  at  length,  not  by  the  edge  of  the 
sword,  but  the  elevation  or  depression  of  a  rod  ;  and 
that  rod  swayed,  not  by  the  skill  .vnd  prowess  of  Joshua, 
but  the  fumness  and  devotion  ot  Moses. 

But  now,  doubt  and  anxiety  are  at  an  end.  The 
hands  of  Moses  are  prop[)ed  up,  .ind  Israel  hnaily  pre- 
vails. And  what  heart  save  that  oi  an  Amakkite  but 
must  rejoice  in  the  issue }  "  The  cmiuing  is  taken  in  his 
own  craftiness."     A  design  of  violence  and  blood  falls 


'206  HIST  OR  r  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XV. 

upon  the  head  of  him  thr.t  contrived  it.  The  righte- 
ous and  innoceiit  cause  bears  down  pride  and  cruelty. 
We  behold  tiie  destination  of"  Heaven  standing  good, 
the  birthright  sold  away,  the  blessing  anticipated  j  the 
elder  made  subject  to  the  younger.  '*  God  is  wise  in 
heart,  and  inigljtv  in  stieugth  :  who  hath  hardened 
himself"  against  him,  and  l;atli  prospered  ?"  Jobix.  4. 

Israel  iias  conquered.  But  it  is  impossible  to  mis- 
take the  means  by  which  he  has  gotten  the  victory. 
"The  hand  of  the  Lord,  and  his  holy  arm,  they  have 
gotten  him  the  victory.'*  The  altar  tlierefore,  which 
was  built  to  celebrate  tliis  signal  success,  shall  by  its 
name  perpetuate  the  remembrance  of  God  the  deliv- 
erer. Jehovah-Nissi,  ''the  Lord  my  banner,"  was  in- 
scribed upon  it  by  the  divine  appointment ;  and  a  rea- 
son is  assigned  in  the  sixteenth  verse.  "  For  he  said. 
Because  the  Lord  hath  sworn  that  the  Lord  will  have 
war  with  Amalekfrom  generation  to  generation." 

These  words,  having  been  variously  rendered,  have 
gi\eu  occasion  to  variou  >  opinions  among  interpreters. 
Some  read  the  passage  thus,  "  Because  the  hand  of 
Amalek  is  against  the  throne  of  the  Lord,  the  Lord 
will  have  war  with  An:alek  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion." This  reading  resolves  the  guilt  of  Amalek, 
not  into  an  insidious  ajd  cruel  design  against  Israel, 
but  into  a  rash  and  imjiious  attempt  to  defeat  the  plan 
of  Provideuce,  which  was  to  bring  Israel  into  the  quiet 
possession  of  Canaan,^  and  to  exalt  tliat  nation  favor- 
ed of  God  but  envied  of  man,  to  wealth,  power  and 
enjpire.  God  therefore  was  pleased  to  vindicate  in 
person  the  cause  vviiich  was  his  own,  and  to  write  dis- 
appointment and  a  cujse  upon  every  plan  which  Ama- 
lek could  lorn),  of  greitness  and  prosperity.  So  "fear- 
ful a  thing  it  is  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God," 
so  dangerous  to  form  a  combination  *' against  the 
Lord,  and  against  Lis  anointed,  saying.  Let  us  break 
tijcir  bands  asunder,,  and  cast  away  their  cords  from  us. 


LECT.  XV.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  OQ? 

He  that  sitteth  in  the  heavens  shall  laugh  :  the  Lord 
shall  have  iheniin  derision,"  Psal.  ii.  2,  3,  A. 

Others  literally  translate  the  words  thus,  "  With  the 
hand  npon  the  throne  of"  the  Lord,  he  hath  sworn  that 
he  will  have  war  with  Amalek  from  generation  to  gen- 
eration." Jle,  that  is,  Moses,  hath  sworn,  with  the 
most  awful  solemnities,  and  recorded  the  oath  in  a 
book  for  perpetual  preservation,  that  there  shall  be  no 
peace  between  I  rael  and  Amalek  till  he  be  utterly  de- 
stoyed.  The  hand  which  was  extended  towards  heaven, 
the  throne  of  the  great  and  terrible  God,  with  the  rod 
in  it ;  the  instrument  of  a  victory  which  was  interrupted 
by  the  going  down  of  the  sun,  has  been  lifted  up,  to 
**  swear  by  Him  tliat  I; veth forever",  that  the  triumph 
of  that  day  shall  be  foilovvod  up,  till  the  hated  name 
of  Amalek  be  extinguished  from  under  heaven. 

Some  make  Jehovah  himself  to  be  the  person  who 
binds  himself  by  this  solemn  oath.  "  The  hand,"  that 
is,  Jehovah's  own  hand,  upon  the  throne  o^'the  Lord. 
*'  Because  he  could  swear  by  no  greater,  he  hath  sworn 
by  himself,  that  He  will  havt  war  with  Amalek  from 
generation  to  generation."  We  have  a  prophecy  in 
the  mouth  of  Balaam  to  the  same  effect ;  "And  when 
he  looked  on  Amalek,  he  took  up  his  parable,  and 
said,  Amalek  was  the  first  of  the  nations,  but  his  latter 
end  shall  be  that  he  perish  forever,"  Numb.  xxiv.  '20. 

The  execution  of  this  dreadful  sentence  was  reserved 
to  the  days  of  Samuel,  four  hundred  and  twelve  years 
after ;  and  was  committed  to  Saul,  who  through  an  im- 
politic and  sinful  lenity,  failed  to  fulfil  the  design  of  Pro- 
vidence, and  thereby  incurred  the  displeasure  of  Hea- 
ven, and  Ibrfeited  his  life  and  crown  by  his  disobedi- 
ence.   I  transcribe  the  passage. 

"  Samuel  also  said  unto  Saul,  The  Lord  sent  me  to 
anoint  thee  to  be  king  over  his  people,  over  Lsrael ; 
now  therefore  hearken  thou  unto  the  voice  of  the 
words  of  the  Lord.  Thus  sajth  the  Lord  of  hosts,  I 
remember  that   which  Amalek  did  to  Israel ;  how  he 


208 


HISTORY 


oil 


MOSES. 


LECT.  XV. 


laid  wait  for  him  in  the  way  when  he  came  up  from 
Egypt.  Now  go,  and  smite  Amaiek,  and  utterly  de- 
stroy all  that  they  have,  auflspare  them  not;  but  slay 
both  man  and  woman,  inftmt  and  suckling,  ox  and 
sheep,  camel  and  ass,"  1  Si  ii.  xv,  1,  2,  3.  This  order 
Saul  obeyed  but  in  part.  He  assumed  and  exercised 
a  dispensing  power,  and  it  H»ecame  a  snare  to  him.  He 
took  Agag  the  king  of  the  Amalekites  alive  ;  and  re- 
served the  best  of  the  spoiJ.  The  prophet  is  sent  of 
God  to  repruve  his  disobedience;  which  Saul  attempting 
to  palliate,  bungs  down  tlis  censure  upon  his  head. 
*'  Wjien  thou  wast  little  in  thine  own  sight,  wast  thou 
not  maiie  the  head  of  the  tubes  of  Israel,  and  the  Lord 
anointed  tiiee  king  over  Israel  ?  And  the  Lord  sent 
thee  on  a  journey,  and  sfijd,  Go,  and  utterly  destroy 
the  sinii(  rs,  the  Amalekilies,  and  fight  against  them 
until  they  be  consumed.  Wherefore  then  didst  thou 
not  obey  tiie  voice  of  the  Lord,  but  didst  fly  upon  the 
spoil  and  di<]st  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord.  And 
Samuel  said,  Hath  the  Lord  as  great  delight  in  burnt- 
OiTermgs  and  sacrifices,  i\<  in  obeying  the  voice  of  the 
Lord  .f*  Behold,  to  obey  js  better  than  sacrifice;  and 
to  hearken,  than  tliefat  of  rams.  For  rebellion  is  as 
tl)e  sin  of  witclicrait,  and  stubbornness  is  as  iniquity 
and  idolatry.  Because  tljiou  hast  rejected  the  word  of 
ihe  Lord,  he  hath  also  rejected  thee  from  being  king,'^ 
1  Sam.  XV,  17,  &c.  Has  God  commanded  to  destroy  ? 
Who  shall  presume  to  save?  Has  he  commanded  to 
spare.?  Who  dares  destroy  ?  "1  say  unto  you,  be  not 
afraid  of  them  that  kill  the  body,  and  alter  that  have 
no  more  that  they  can  (jlo.  But  I  will  fbrwarn  you 
whom  you  shall  tear:  fear  him,  which,  after  he  hath 
killed,  hath  power  to  cast  into  hell:  ytalsay  unto 
Vf'U,  fear  him,"  Luke  xii.  4,  6. 


f 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  XVI. 


And  Moses  went  out  to  meet  his  father-in-law ^  and  did 
ohcisanccy  and  kissed  him :  and  they  asked  each  other  of 
their  zvelfare  ;  and  they  canie  into  the  tent.  And  Mo- 
ses told  his  father-in-law  all  that  the  Lord  had  done 
unto  Pharaoh,  and  to  the  Egyptians  for  Israel's  sake 
and  all  the  travel  that  hud  come  upon  them  by  the 
ivay,  and  hoxv  the  Lord  delivered  them.  And  Jethro 
rejoiced  for  all  the  goodness  zvhich  the  Lord  had  done 
to  Israel :  zchoni  he  had  delivered  out  of  the  hand  of 
the  Egyptians.  And  Jethro  said.  Blessed  be  the  Lord, 
who  hath  delivered  you  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Egypti- 
ans, and  out  of  the  hand  of  Pharaoh,  ivho  hatli  deliv- 
ered the  peeplefrom  under  the  hand  of  the  Egypt iaj2s. 
Now  I  knozo  the  Lord  is  greater  than  all  gods:  for 
in  the  thing  ivhrrein  they  dealt  proudly,  he  zvas  above 
them.  And  Jethro,  Moses's  father-in-lazv,  took  a 
hurnt-qffcring  and  sacrifices  for  God. :  and  Aaron 
came,  and  all  the  elders  of  Israel  to  eat  bi^ead  zvith  Mo- 
ses's fat  lier-in-law  before  God....Rxojius  xviii.  7,  12. 

^Ij^IIE  great  Author  and  Ruler  of  the  world  has  evi- 
JL  deiirly  in  view  the  pipasure  and  happiness,  as  well 
as  the  wisdom  and  virlne  oC  his  rational  creatures.  We 
liiul  through  the  w;deiy  expanded  frame  of  nature, 
and  the  extensive  plan  of  Providence,  as  many  sources 
of  j :)y  as  there  are  means  of  improvement.  What  an 
infinite,  beautiful  and  pleasing  variety  in  the  works 
and  in  the  ways  of  God !   all   ministering-  to  humaa 

VOL.    II.  2  D 


*I0  HISTORY  OF    MOSES.  LECT.  XVr» 

comfort,  all  aiming  at  making  men  good.  The  mind 
of  man  is  formed  to  desire  and  relish  varietj*.  The 
objects  with  which  he  is  conversant  are  therefore  varied 
without  end,  to  gratify  that  desire,  and  to  correspond 
with  that  relish.  The  glare  of  perpetual  sunshine  and 
the  fervid  heat  of  an  eternal  summer,  would  speedily 
oppress  and  destroy  mankind  :  but,  relieved  by  the 
tranquillity  of  darkness,  the  freshness  of  spring,  the 
sedateness  of  autumn,  and  even  the  gloom  of  winter, 
they  become  no  less  grateful  than  they  are  beneficial. 
In  surveying  the  globe,  the  eye  is  not  permitted  to 
tire  by  Ijaving  to  crawl  along  a  boundless  plain  ;  but 
sparkles  with  delight  as  it  springs  from  valley  to  valley, 
and  from  hill  to  hill.  And  even  the  glories  of  the  star- 
ry heavens  are  rendered  still  more  glorious  by  being 
kept  in  continual  motion  ;  and  thereby  are  made  con- 
tinually to  exhibit  adilferent  appearance. 

Tlie  events  of  human  life,  for  the  same  reason,  are 
endlessly  variegated  like  the  objects  of  sense.  Wretch- 
ed were  the  dull  stagnation  of  constant  prosperity,  suc- 
cess and  ease.  Intolerable  would  be  the  agitation  and 
distress  of  unceasing,  unabating,  unrelenting  toil,  pain, 
disappointment  and  vexation  of  spirit.  But^  one  thing 
being  set  over  against  anotlier,  the  great,  the  prosper- 
ous and  the  happy  are  forever  admonished,  reproved 
and  brought  low^  the  poor,  the  despised  and  the  miser- 
able are  cheered,  supported  and  exalted. 

The  word  of  God  exhibits  a  resemblance  to  the  sys- 
tem of  nature,  and  to  the  conduct  of  providence.  In 
it  we  have  the  same  pleasing,  engaging  variety ;  the 
same  happy  accommodation  to  the  tastes,  occasions  and 
necessities  of  mankind.  'I'hc  antiquarian  and  the  nat- 
uralist, the  politician  and  the  legislator,  the  poet  and 
the  philosopher,  the  moralist  and  the  divine,  the  man 
of  retirement  and  the  man  of  the  world,  the  man  of 
reason  and  the  man  of  fancy,  all  find  in  scripture 
an  helper  toward  the  discovery  of  truth,  and  the  at- 
tainment of  happiness  j  a  guide  to  the  understanding, 


r 


ULCT.  X\.l.  HISTORY  OF  MOSKS.  <?!  1 

a'corrector  and  supporter  of  tlie  imagination,  a  com- 
forter of  the  heart,  a  teacher  ol  wisdom,  a  rule  of  faith, 
u  source  of  joy. 

The  very  structure  of  the  sacred  compositions  is  in- 
imitably calculated,  by  a  beautiful  and  easy  transition 
from  subject  to  subject,  and  from  scene  to  scene,  to  re- 
lieve and  yet  to  preserve  the  attention  ;  presenting  al- 
ways a  new  and  interesting  object,  or  the  same  object 
placed  in  a  new  and  interestmg  light.  Thus  the;  tu- 
multuous, noisy  and  bloody  scenes  of  Horeb  and  Re- 
phidim. ..scenes  of  murmuring,  rebellion  and  war,  are 
happily  relieved  by  scenes  of  domestic  tranquillity, 
love  and  joy;  and  we  are  prepared  to  attend  Moses, 
to  meet  God  in  the  mount,  by  mixing  in  the  virtuous, 
cheerful  and  affectionate  intercourse  of  his  private  fa- 
mily. 

Let  us  then  thankfully  take  the  relief  which  a  graci- 
ous God  has  in  his  word  provided  for  us;  and  contem- 
plate one  of  tho-e  calm,  but  neither  uninteresting  nor 
uninstructive  representations  of  human  life,  which 
come  home  to  the  bosom  and  the  fire-side  of  every 
man  who  has  a  heart,  who  has  a  relation,  who  has  a 
friend. 

The  history  of  Moses  now  looks  back,  and  reminds 
us  of  his  being  "  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land  ;"  name- 
ly, of  his  fleeing  from  Egypt  into  Midian,  of  his  arriv- 
ing there,  conducted  of  Providence,  just  at  the  mo- 
ment to  render  a  seasonable  service  to  the  daughter  of 
Raguel,  or  Jethro,  the  priest  of  Midian  ;  of  the  hos- 
pitable reception  atibided  him  by  that  worthy  man, 
and  of  the  alliance  which  he  formed  with  him>by  marry- 
ing his  daughter  Zipporah.  Upon  his  being  called 
back  to  Egypt  to  undertake  the  weighty  charge  which 
God  had  assigned  him,  he  had  intended  and  attempt- 
ed to  carry  his  wife  and  children  along  with  him.  But 
being  reproved  of  God  by  the  way  for  neglecting 
in  his  own  family  the  right  of  circumcision,  the  seal  of 
God's  covenant,  and,  either  specially  admonished  from. 


2Pi  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XVI. 

Heaven,  or  following  the  dictates  of  human  prurience, 
he  sends  them  all  back  to  his  father-in-iavv,  as  likely  to 
prove  either  a  burden  or  a  hindrance  to  himself,  in  the 
discharge  of  his  great  trust.  For  true  piety,  while  it 
reposes  entire  confidence  in  God,  will  never  presump- 
tuously load  Providence  with  what  is  the  proper  woik 
and  business  of  man.  Diligence  and  lbresip;ht,  as 
well  as  faith  and  hope,  are  its  genuine  uffspriug.  But 
the  tempest  being  now  blown  over,  and  Mo^es  d'  a 
messenger  and  a  suppliant  unto  Pharaoh,  Ijeing  now 
become  the  head  and  leader  of  a  great  nation,  it  was 
natural  for  him  and  for  his  family  mutually  to  desire  to 
be  restored  to  each  other,  Jethro,  therefore,  having 
received  information  where  Israel  was,  and  what  tlie 
Lord  had  done  for  them,  takes  his  daughter  and  grand- 
children, and  carries  them  with  him  to  the  camp  of 
Israel. 

The  innocent  endearments  of  natural  affection,  and 
the  honest  communications  of  private  i'riendship,  are 
graciously  intended  to  alleviate  the  cares  of  public  liie, 
and  to  strengthen  the  mind  by  diverting  it  from  inces- 
sant and  intense  application  to  serious  business.  No 
man  can  always  be  a  general,  a  statesman  or  a  king. 
And  happy  it  is  for  those  who  occupy  these  exalted 
but  troublesome  stations,  that  they  are  frequently  per- 
mitted to  sink  the  public  in  the  private  character,  trul 
to  drop  the  heru,  the  senator,  the  judge,  the  sovereign, 
in  the  man. 

Distance  has  not  alienated  affection   between   the 
man  of  God  and  his  family.     A  slighter   affection   is 
effaced   and  destroyed  by  absence ;  a  stronger  love 
is  confirmed  and  inflamed  by  it.     Good  old  Jethro  sa- 
tisfies not  himself  with  sending  by  the  month  of  ano- 
ther a  compliment  of  congratulation  to  his  son-in-law  ; 
ineither  will  he  permit  Zipporah  and  her  sons  to  go  un- 
accompanied, unprotected,   through   the  wilderness ; 
but,  aged  and  infirm  as  he  was,  chooses  himself  to  be 
heir  companion  and  their  protector. 


LECT.  XVI.  HISTORY    01-    MObES.  O]^ 

Moses  seems  to  take  delight  in  rielivcring  to  iis  this 
passage  of  his  life.     He  is  aniial)' y  minute  and  circun)- 
stantial  in  the  detail  of  it.      lie  dwells  upon  the  tender 
and  adectiug  reeolleetions  of  sorrows  and  of  jovs  that 
are  past.  His  heart  is  in  it.  He  stops  in  his  narration  to 
tell  us  the  names  of  his  two  sons,  and  his  reason  for  o-iv- 
ing  Ihem  those  names.     *'  The  name  of  the  one   was 
Gershron:  for  he  said,  I  have  been  an  alien  in  a  strantre 
land ;  and  the  name  of  the  other  was  Elizer^  for  the  God 
of  my  lathers,  said  he,  was  mine  helj),  and  delivered  me- 
from  the  sword  of  Pharaoh."  Is  this  heneaih  :  he  dignity 
of  history,  of  sacred  history.?    No,  it  is  the  most  ho- 
norable province  of  history,  to  exhibit  tlie  honest  nn- 
sophistieated   feelings  of  nature,  the  genuine  workin-^s 
of  the  human  heart,  the  real  though  humbler  scenes  of 
human  life.     What  signifies  to  us  the  meeting  of  two 
old  men    three  thousand   three   hund;ed   years  a«-o .? 
Much  every  way.     One  of  them  is  a  Moses,  and  that 
Aloses  is  describing  his  own  sentiments,  unveiling  his 
own  heart.     He  can  serve  as  an  instructor  and  an  ex- 
ample to  none,  in  resi>ect  to  the  prophetic  dignity,  as 
the  bearer  of  the  potent  rod,  as  tlse  man   wliose  face 
shone,  by  forty  days  intimate  communion  witJi  God. 
He  can  instruct  but  a  lew,  by  his  wisdom  and  sagacity 
as  a  prmce  and  a  law-giver.     But  as  a  son,  a  husband 
and  a  father,  he  is  a  pattern  to  myriads,  and  shall  con- 
tinue to  teach  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

How  pleasant  it  is  to  find  this  great  man  the  same 
in  retirement  and  privacy  that  he  is  upon  the  great 
theatre  ;  and  delineating  a  battle,  a  triumph,  and  a  fa- 
mily meeting,  with  the  same  simplicity -and  godly  since- 
rity !  Public  men  have  loo  often  two  ditferent  charac- 
ters. Plausible  and  specious,  humble,  modest  and  in- 
sinuating before  the  world,  they  are  self-willed  and  ty- 
rannical, confident,  assuming'^and  brutal  in  private; 
they  often  fawn  where  they  fear,  and  domineer  where 
they  have  power.  Not  so  the  meek  and  gentle  pro- 
phet andjudge  of  Israel.     He  waits  not  in  state  till 


214  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XVI, 

his  relations  are  adiDitted  to  pay  their  homage.  He 
reckons  it  iiothinj^  derogatoy,  to  his  high  dignity  to  go 
forth  to  pay  tlie  respect  dae  to  age  !  and  to  humble 
the  son,  however  high  in  place,  at  the  feet  of  the  pa- 
rent, *'  And  Moses  went  out  lo  meet  his  father-in- 
jav,',  and  did  obeisance,  and  kissed  him  j  and  they  ask- 
ed each  other  of  their  welfare  ;  and  they  came  into  the 
lent."  Were  it  after  the  separation  of  but  a  day, 
friends  have  a  thousand  questions  to  ask,  a  thousand 
little  incidents  to  relate ;  about  their  health,  their 
entertainment,  their  dangers,  their  deliverances  ;  about 
the  observations  which  they  have  made,  the  projects 
they  may  have  formed.  What  must  it  then  have  been 
for  two  such  hiends,  for  such  a  father  and  son,  after  a 
separation  of  many  months,  during  which,  events  of 
such  Ijigh  moment  to  both  had  taken  place,  to  meet 
together  again  in  health  and  comfort,  to  communicate 
mutually  the  full  soul,  to  retire  into  the  tent,  to  shut 
out  the  world,  and  give  vent  to  the  overflowings  of 
tenderness  and  affection. 

And  with  what  a  subject  of  conversation  are  they 
furnished  ;  "  And  Moses  told  his  father-in-law  all  that 
the  Lord  had  done  unto  Pljaraoh,  and  to  the  Egypti- 
ans, for  Israel's  sake,  and  ail  the  travel  that  had  come 
upon  them  by  the  way,  and  how  the  Lord  delivered 
them."  The  most  trifling  incidents  which  befai  a  bro- 
ther, a  friend,  a  child,  are  interesting  and  important. 
What  must  then  have  been  the  emotions  of  Jethro  to 
hear  the  wonders  of  Egypt ;  to  learn  the  great  things 
of  God,  astonishing  in  themselves,  and  acquiring  an 
additional  weight,  creating  a  new  interest,  from  the 
person  who  related  them,  and  who  was  himself  so  deep- 
ly concerned  in  the  event  ? 

But  the  good  man  is  elevated,  as  he  wondering  lis- 
tens to  the  wonderful  tale,  above  all  personal  and  sel- 
fish regards,  above  the  partiality  of  private  friendship^ 
above  the  tenderness  of  natural  affection.  His  h  art 
dilates  at  the  thought  of  a  whole  nation  delivered,  of 


LECT.    XVr.  HISTORY  OP  MOSES.  '215 

a  tyrant  trampled  in  thednst,  of  the  power,  wisdom 
and  intTcy  ot  God  amgnidcil.  "  And  Jethro  rejoiced 
ior  all  the  goodness  which  the  Loni  had  done  to  Israel ; 
whom  he  had  delivered  out  of  the  hands  uf  the  Eg\  p- 
tians.  And  Jetln'o  said,  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who 
halh  dehvered  you  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Eii^yptians, 
and  out  of  the  hand  of  Pharaoh,  who  hath  delivered 
the  people  from  under  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians. 
Now  I  know  that  I  he  Lord  is  greater  than  all  gods;  for 
in  the  thing  wherein  tliey  dealt  proudly,  he  was  above 
them." 

Ttiis  friendly  interview  issues  in  a  solemn  religious 
service,  in  which  Aaron  and  all  the  elders  of  Israel  are 
called  to  assist.  What  a  blessed  intluence  has  true  re- 
ligion, in  conciliating  kindness  and  confirming  friend- 
ship! When  men  cordially  agree  in  the  same  glorious 
object  of  worship,  the  little  peculiarities  of  form  will 
not  obstruct  the  mutual  attraction  of  brotherly  love. 
Prejudice  will  droop  and  die,  and  charity  will  draw  a 
veil  over  its  neighbor's  singularities  and  imperfections. 
Happy  the  family  whose  union  is  cemented  by  piety; 
the  family  whose  happiness  and  peace  are  built  uj)on 
the  love  of  God;  whose  employments,  communications 
and  pursuits  are  improved  and  sanctified  by  praxer! 

Due  attention  having  been  paid  to  the  calls  of  iios- 
pitality,  the  dictates  of  private  friendship,  and  the 
demands  of  filial  duty,  Moses  reverts  next  day  be- 
times to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  pnbhc  slat  ion. 
The  time,  the  talents  of  the  minister  of  God,  aie  not 
his  own,  they  belong  to  mankind.  Superlicial  obser- 
vers who  consider  but  theemmence  of  the  place  which 
a  magistrate  fills,  the  robe  which  he  wears,  the  res- 
pect with  which  he  is  attended,  look  up  to  him  wilh 
envy,  and  call  him  blessed.  They  think  not  of  the 
thousand  sacrifices  which  he  is  constrained  to  make  of 
his  ease,  of  his  inclination,  of  his  health,  of  his  natural 
propensities,  of  his  private  attachments.  They  talk 
©f  the  lionors  and  emoluments  of  his  oilice,  but  they 


216  HISTORY  OF  MOSEf.  LECT.'XVr. 

overlook  his  anxious  days,  his  painful  toils,  his  sleep- 
less nights,  the  causeless  hatred  which  he  incurs,  the 
unprovoked  insults  which  he  must  bear,  and  must  not 
resent,  the  surrender  which  he  must  make  of  solid  and 
substantial  felicity,  and  the  exchange  of  real  and  cer- 
tain tranquillity,  for  uncertain  usefulness  or  precarious 
reputation.  Who  would  not  be  Moses,  to  sit  on  high 
and  judge  the  people?  But  who  would  be  Moses  to 
have  the  people  stand  by  him  forjudgment,  "from  the 
morning  to  the  evening!" 

The  obscure  part  of  mankind  are  little  sensible  what 
they  owe  to  Providence  for  their  obscurity.  They  cant 
go  out  and  come  in  unnoticed.  They  can  go  to  rest 
when  they  will,  and  continue  it  as  long  as  they  please. 
They  have  no  vigilant,  jealous,  envious  eye  over  them. 
The\'  are  free  from  the  dreadful  conflict  of  inclination 
and  duty,  of  interest  and  conscience,  of  reverence  for 
God  and  respect  for  man.  They  can  enjoy  their  fami- 
lies and  friends.  What  they  have,  however  little,  they 
can  call  their  own.  What,  compared  to  these,  and 
such  advantages  as  these,  is  the  ermine  cloak,  the  ivory 
sceptre,  the  gem-encircled  crown?  Rejoice,  O  man, 
that  the  world  knows  thee  not,  cares  not  for  thee,  con- 
descends not  to  trouble  thy  repose.  Creep  thy  way 
.silently,  I  beseech  thee,  to  heaven  ;  unafraid  of  being 
overlooked,  neglected  and  Ibrgotten  in  the  multitude  of 
the  redeemed,  who  there  live,  and  reign,  and  *'  rejoice, 
with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory." 

Observe  liovveven  a  Moses  may  err  in  an  excess  of 
zeal,  through  ignorance,  inexperience  or  inattention. 
Desirous  of  doing  good  by  administering  justice  im- 
partially, he  cares  noi  what  trouble  and  labor  it  may 
cust  hir^iself.  The  service  of  feaV  or  of  necessity  is  slow, 
reluctant,  partial  and  iiuperfectj  the  labor  of  love  is 
cheeriul,  active  and  persevering.  Moses  is  in  the  way 
Of  his  duty  early  and  late.  W  the  public  be  served 
laithfully,  if  equity  be  dispensed,  if  God  be  glorified, 
iie  is  willing  to  spend  and  to  be  spent  in  such  a  cause. 


LECT.  XVI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  2l7 

And  Moses  said  unto  hisrathcr-in-Iavv,  because  "the 
people  couie  up  unto  me  to  iiHjuiie  of  God  :  when  they 
have  a  matter,  they  come  unto  me;  and  I  judge  be- 
tween one  and  anotlier,  and  I  do  make  them  know 
the  statures  of  God,  and  his  laws,"  Ver.  1,5.  16. 

We  have  seen  Jethro,  in  the  character  of  a  pious  man, 
an  alVeclionate  neighbor,  and  a  kind  relation.  We 
see  him  now  blending  with  these  excellent  qualities  the 
character  of  an  able  statesman  and  sagacious  politician. 
There  is  no  man  so  wise  as  not  to  need  instruction,  and 
none  so  simple  as  to  be  incapable  of  sometimes  giving 
advice  Jethro  plainly  perceived,  that  the  course  of 
life  which  his  son-in-law  was  pursuing  must  soon  prove 
iatal  to  him.  Tlvit,  by  attempting  what  was  beyond 
his  strength  to  bear  or  perform,  he  was  in  the  way  of 
(juickiy  rendering  himself  unable  to  do  any  thing  at  all. 
He  therefore  proposes  a  subdivision  of  the  toil,  by  the 
appointment  of  proper  men  to  the  office  of  judge,  who 
might  try  and  determine  the  causes  of  less  importance, 
and  apply  to  Moses,  and  to  God  through  him,  only 
in  matters  of  high  moment,  and  as  the  last  resort.  Thus 
Moses  would  be  greatly  releaved,  many  good  meu 
would  be  trained  up  to  the  useful,  honorable  and  im- 
portant employment  of  judging  between  his  brethren, 
and  the  people  meanwhile  sustain  no  damage. 

The  qualities  which  he  points  out  as  requisite  to  con- 
stitute thischaracter,show  how  carefully  he  had  consid- 
ered the  sul)Ject,  and  how  well  fitted  he  was  to  advise 
in  a  matter  of  this  kind.  Let  those  who  have  the  ap- 
pointment of  judges  study  well  what  he  says,  and  act 
accordingly.  "Thou  shalt  provide  out  of  all  the  peo- 
ple able  men,  such  as  fear  God,  men  of  truth,  hating 
covetiousness  :  and  place  such  over  them,  to  be  rulers 
of  thousands,  and  rulers  of  hundreds,  rulers  of  fitlies, 
and  rulers  of  tens,"  Ver.  21. 

The  fust  requisite  in  a  judge,  according  to  Jethro^ 
is  ability .  He  must  be  a  man  of  sense, penetration  and 
discernment.     Because,  with  the  best  intentionF,  a  stu- 

voL.  ir.  2  E 


2  IS  HISTORY  OF  xMOSES.  LECT.  XVI. 

pi.'l,  weak  or  dissipated  man,  will  be  apt  to  err  in  jndg- 
nient ,  either  because  he  is  unable  to  comprehend  the 
cause,  or  will  not  imploy  the  necessary  time  and 
paus  to  understand  it. 

Uul  what  are  the  greatest  and  most  shining  abilities, 
de.-tiiute  ofa  principle  of  conscience  :  They  are  but  a 
uHsdiievous  weapon  in  the  hands  of  a  bad  man.  A 
judge,  therefore,  ought  to  be  a  man  that  fears  God. 
A  man,  not  only  restrained  by  respect  to  the  world, 
or  actuated  by  regard  to  reputation  :  these  are  found 
leebleand  inefiicatious  in  the hourof temptation  ;  these 
are  fluctualing  and  unsteady,  as  the  opinions,  passions 
and  interests  of  men  ;  but  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  a  {>er- 
j.einul  unchanging  motive  and  restraint,  tlie  same  in 
(hukness  as  in  the  liglit,  the  same  in  secret  as  before  the 
eyes  of  the  whole  w<  rid. 

Tii'.s  principle  is  closely  connecied  with,  and  indeed 
it  jiaiuraily  produces  a  third  quality,  of  primary  impor- 
tLince  in  this  characler.  A  judge  must  be  a  man  of 
inii'h.  A  sacred  observer  of  truth,  in  what  he  says 
hii.iscif  J  a  diligent  prunioter  of  truth,  and  an  impartial 
a. engerof  falsehood  and  injustice  in  others.  Even  a 
!c;i,aid  to  some  of  the  princioles  of  religion,  unconnect- 
cd  with  the  iove  of  truth  and  justice,  which  are  of  the 
number  of  those  principles,  might  be  apt  to  mislead  a 
man.  Compassion,  lor  exampit-,  might  dispose  a  judge 
to  ftivor  t[»e  poor  man,  though  he  has  the  worst  cause. 
The  all-wise  God,  therefore,  thought  it  necessary  to 
■  thro'.y  in  a  special  caution  to  this  purpose,  lest  a  princi- 
ple, nmiableand  excellent  in  itself,  should  be  perverted 
into  a  source  of  injustice,  and  has  enjoined,  by  a  posi- 
tive statute,  "Neither  shalt  thou  countenance  a  poor 
man  in  his^causc,"  Exod.  xxiii.  3. ..that  the  cause,  not 
the  person  or  condition  of  the  man,  should  be  consid- 
ered by  him  who  sitsin  judgmenL 

Jethro  finally  lays  it  down  as  essential  to  the  cha- 
racter oi  a  judge,  that  he  be  a  man  v^  ho  hates  covctioiis- 
ness.     In  which  there  is  a  strong  insinuation,  that  where 


LECT,  XVI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  21f) 

the  love  of  money  predominates,  theexerci.se  of  all 
other  necessary  and  suitable  quahties  are  hkcly  to  be 
ol/structed  or  perverted  ;  abihty  under  such  influence 
reutlered  only  more  dangerous  and  hurttul ;  the  fear  of 
God  lulled  asleep;  the  heart  hardened;  the  conscience, 
by  the  strong  opiate  of  gold,  reduced  to  a  state  of  in- 
sensibility, and  truth  and  justice  hoodwinked  on  tlie 
tribunal. 

The  history  of  our  own  country  affords  a  melancholy 
example  of  the  truth  of  this  observation,  in  the  conduct 
of  that  "greatest,  wisest,  meanest  of  mankind,"  Sir 
Frances  Bacon,  Lord  Verulam,  and  Lord  High  Chan- 
ceiloi  of  England,  in  the  reign  of  James  L  who  with  a 
soul  that  comprehended,  filled,  extended  and  enlarged 
the  circle  of  science  ;  a  genius  that  penetrated  througli 
the  whole  vast  system  of  nature,  an  imagination  that 
transcended  thetlaming  boundaries  of  the  world,  and 
a  hean  devoted  to  the  love  of  God  and  mankind. ..base- 
ly received  the  wages  of  unrighteousness,  accepted  a 
bribe  to  pervert  justice,  was  accused  and  convicted  of 
corruption  in  the  execution  of  his  high  and  important 
trust,  acknovv.l edged  his  own  shame,  and  was  deserved- 
ly driven,  with  disgrace  to  hunself,  and  with  the  indig- 
nation, shame  and  pity  of  a  mortiiied  and  astonished 
world,  from  au  honorable  station  which  he  fiiied  so 
unworthily. 

But  alas,  after  all,  when  we  read  of  the  appoin-ment 
of  judges  and  generals  and  of  their  requisite  qualities, 
of  what  does  it  remind  us  but  that  men  are  selfij>h, 
covetous,  litigious  and  violent :  tenacious  of  thc-ir  own, 
and  ready  to  encroach  upon  others?  Wherefore  is 
law?  Wherefore  are  theie  tribunals?  1  bey  are  for 
"  the  lawless  and  disobedient."  Make  men  jIJs^,  gen- 
tle, kindly  atTectioned  ;  make  them  christians  ir.deed, 
and  then  war  is  at  an  end  ;  the  courts  are  shut  up  ;  then 
there  would  be  no  need  of  a  judge,  because  therf 
would  be  no  otiender. 

Tlie  advice  which    was    wisely  and  kindly   giveni, 


@20  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XVt. 

graciously  and  candidly  received.  A  proud  and  self- 
sufficient  spirit  would  have  rejected  the  counsel,  how- 
ever salutary,  because  tendered  by  a  stranger.  But, 
true  wisdom  only  considers  whether  the  hint  be  useiiil, 
practicable  and  necessary,  without  regarding  horn  what 
quarter  it  comes.  And  such  was  the  wisdom  of  Mo- 
ses, and  he  was  prepared  for  converse  with  God, 
who  had  learned  deference  and  respect  for  the  opinions 
of  men.  Ajid  thus  the  very  fjrst  rudiments  of  the  Jew- 
ish constitution,  were  suggested  by  ihe  observation  and 
experience  of  a  stranger  and  a  Midianite.  And  the 
great  Jehovah  disdained  not  to  permit  his  prophet  to 
be  taught,  and  his  people  to  be  governed,  b}  the  wis- 
dom and  intelligence  of  a  good  man,  though  he  was 
not  of  the  commonwealth  of  Israel.  If  men  were  ca- 
j)able  of  learning  to  be  wise  and  good.  He  who  is  wis- 
dom and  goodness  itself  would  vouchsafe  to  teach  them, 
not  by  precept  only,  but  by  example  also.  As  Jethro 
suggested  so  it  was  done.  Moses  was  eased  of  a  i)ur- 
then  intolerable,  the  course  of  justice  was  not  sto|)ped, 
God  was  glorified,  and  the  world  edified. 

You  must  have  observed,  that  I  have  once  and  again 
held  out  to  your  expectation  a  subject  of  discourse, 
from  which  I  have  once  and  a  second  time  shrunk  back. 
It  is  gtil!  before  me,  and  I  feel  myself  as  reluctant  as 
ever  to  proceed.  Who  is  not  ready  to  sink  under  the 
awful  terrors  of  the  dispensation  of  the  law  from  Sinai? 
*'  Who  is  sufficient  for  such  things.?"  But  1  mast  ven- 
ture to  go  on,  and  endeavor  to  carry  yon  with  me  to 
the  foot  of  that  tremendous  mountain.  And  I  flatter 
myself  you  have  not  been  altogether  disappointed  or 
injured  in  being  stopped  a  little  in  your  progress.  AVitU 
jecruited  strength  and  spirits,  we  shall  attempt  to  ad- 
va[ice  on  our  wav.  But  we  shall  first  from  this  eminence 
survey  the  ground  over  which  we  have  travelled.  Emi< 
nence,  did  1  say  ?  No.  Let  us  join  the  innocent,  cheer- 
ful society  in  the  tent  of  Moses,  and  learn  to  cultivate 
the  cndei!ii''>g  charities  of  private  life  ;  and,  having  con- 


LECT.    XVI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  221 

sidered  it  well,  let  us  retire  making  such  reflections  as 
these.... 

That  is  not  fortitude,  but  folly,  unnecessarily  to  ex- 
pose ourselves,  or  tliose  \\  horn  we  love,  to  iiardships 
and  danger,  "if  any  provide  not  Ibr  his  own,  and 
spt^cially  lor  those  ofiiisown  house,  he  liaJh  denied 
the  faith,  and  is  worse  than  an  infidel,"  1  '1  nn.  v.  8. 
It  is  our  care,  not  our  labor  and  reflection,  which  we 
are  encouraged  to  cast  upon  God, 

That  it  argues  a  deficiency  in  some  moral  principle 
or  another,  when  persons  whom  nature,  and  the  obli- 
gations of  society  have  united,  discover  an  inclination 
to  live  asunder.  Wisdom  or  necessity  may  impose  u 
temporary  separation  :  but  well  disposed  minds  ever 
look  to,  and  eagerly  laj' hold  of  the  means  aud  the 
season  of  restoration  and  union. 

That  regard  to  public  utility,  exalts  and  improves 
private  friendship. 

That  to  promote  the  glory  of  God,  his  own  virtue, 
and  the  good  of  his  fellow-creatures,  is  the  great  and 
constant  aim  of  every  good  man. 

That  as  none  is  too  wise  to  learn,  it  is  a  proof  of 
aflection  to  communicate  useful  hints  j  and  a  high 
proof  of  wisdom  to  take  and  use  them,  from  u  Ijatcver 
quarter  they  come.  There  is  one  Being  on!}'  who  is 
not  to  be  instructed.  *'  How  unsearchable  are  his 
judgments,  and  his  ways  past  flnding  out  ;  for  who 
hath  known  the  mind  of  the  Lord  :  or  who  hath  been 
his  counsellor.?"  Rom.  :Ni.  32,  34. 

And  finally  that,  though  we  cannot  successively  im- 
itate eminent  men  in  every  particular  of  conduct,  or 
in  the  display  of  talents  which  may  be  denied  to  our- 
selves, we  are  not  thereby  precluded  from  the  exercise 
of  the  inferior  talents  which  we  possess,  and  from  a  vir- 
tuous emulation  where  it  is  possible  for  ns  to  succeed. 
Let  me  strive  to  be  a  M<.>ses  m  some  things  though  I 
be  conscious  I  must  fall  inconceivably  behind  him  in 
most.    Amen. 


HI  STORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  XVII. 


And  il  came  to  pass  on    the  third  day  in  the  mornings 
that  there  ivere  thunders  and   lightnings,  and  a  tliick 
cloud  ypon    I  lie  mount,  and  the  voice  of  the   trumpet 
exceeding  loud  ;  so  that  all  the  people  that  was  in  the 
camp  trembled.     Aiid  Moses    brought  forth  the  peo- 
ple out  of  the  camp  to  meet  with  God,  and  they  stood 
at  the  nether  part  of  the  mount.     And  mount  Sinai 
was  altogciher  on  as  moke,  because  the  Lord  descend- 
ed upon  it  in  fire  ;  and  the  smoke  therecf  ascended  as 
the  smoke  of  a  furnace,  and  the  whole  mount    quaked 
greatly.     And  when  the  voice  of  the  trumpet  sounded 
long,  and  waxed  louder  and  louder,  Moses  spake,  and 
God  answered  him  by  a  voice.     And  the  Lord  came 
doivn  upon  mount  Sinai,  on  the  top  of  the  mount  : 
and  the  Lord  called  Moses  vp  to  the  top  of  the  mount, 
and  Moses  went  up.     And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses, 
Go  dozvn,  charge  the  people,  lest  they  break  through 
ifnto    the  Lord  to  gaze,  and   many  of  them  perish. 
And  let  the  priests  also,  which  come  near  to  the  Lord, 
sanctify  themselves,  lest   the  Lord  break  forth  upon 
thcm....K:iODvs  xix.  16... 22. 

N  man,  as  he  came  perfect  from  the  hands  of  his 
Creator,  the  immortal  principle,  the  "  breath  of 
Jile,"  "  the  living  soul"  exercised  its  just  dominion 
over  the  earthly  and  sensual  part  of  his  nature.  In 
man,  degraded  by  sin,  we  behold    the  grosser  domi.i- 


LECT.  XVII.  HISTORY    OF  MOSES.  2-23 

eering  over  th'^  purer,  the  heavenly  sul)jecf(^d  lo  flie 
terrtjstria!,  Llie  soul,  a  slave  to  the  senses.  When  our 
nature  thro^^h  grace  shall  be  restored,  the  sou!  shall 
v  same  its  empire;  the  body  itself  shall  become  spiri- 
tual, sliall  sliake  olV  t!ie  power  of  gravitation,  and 
■"  ascend  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air,"  '■'  being  liish- 
ioned  like  unto  Christ's  a;lorious  body." 

Tiie  dispensations  o(  Heaven  are  suited  to  the  con- 
dition oi"  man,  "  God  knows  our  frame,  and  re- 
m^mbereth  that  we  are  dust."  He  makes  sense  his 
road  to  t!ie  mind  ;  he  seizes  the  conscience,  and  melts 
the  heart,  by  speaking  to  the  eyes  and  the  ears.  And 
when  we  consider  how  easil}',  and  through  how  many 
ditferent  channels  he  can  force  his  way  to  the  inmost 
recesses  of  the  man,  who  but  must  shudder  at  the 
thought  of  meeting  the  Father  of  spirits,  ourselves  dis- 
embodied spirits;  at  tiie  thought  of  dropping  the  clay 
tab-rnacle  in  its  native  dust,  and  of  becoming  all  eye 
to  see  God  as  he  is,  all  ear  to  hear  his  voice,  all  soul 
to  perceive  and  comprehend  him  !  If  God,  encourag- 
ing and  amiable  in  purifying  and  directing  fire  in  the 
cloud}'  pillar,  and  in  harmless,  uticonsuming  fire  in 
the  bush  at  Horeb,  be  a\vful ;  if  dreadful  at  Sinai, 
coming  in  flashing,  dazzling,  threatening  fire  to  pro- 
muIo:ate  his  law  :  what  must  he  be  "  coming-  in  f]amin<r 
fire  to  take  vengeance  on  them  that  know  not  God, 
and  that  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.?" 
If  the  sound  of  that  trumpet,  which  proclaimed  the 
approach  of  God  to  Israel,  was  read}'  to  kill  thelivino- 
with  fear,  what  must  be  thetruiii})et  which  sholl  awake 
t-hedead?  Whatever  majesty  and  sokinnity  may  ap- 
pear in  the  giving  of  the  law,  eveiy  one  shall  in  alittls 
while  behoid  it  infinitely  exceeded  in  the  consumma- 
tion of  the  gospel. 

God  has  hitherto  declared  his  divine  perfections  bv 
the  etlects  which  they  produced.  The  plagues  of  Egypt 
awfully  manifested  his  power  and  justice.  The  daily 
showers  of  manna,  and  water  following  them  from  the 


1224  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XVIf. 

rods,  bespeak  his  power  and  goodness.  But  he  now 
opens  his  mouth,  to  proclaim  in  the  ears  of  men,  his 
name,  his  nature  and  his  will.  Let  us,  with  Israel,  at 
a  trembling  distance  contemplate  this  great  sight,  and 
listen  with  reverence  to  the  Almiglity  uttering  his  voice. 

The  |)osterity  of  Abraham,  according  to  the  pro- 
mise is  now  become  a  great  nation.  But  what  are 
multitudes  without  government,  and  what  government 
is  a  blessing  without  law  ?  Happiness  consist  not  in 
having  such  and  such  possessions,  but  in  being  fitted  to 
enjoy  what  \?e  have.  The  constitution  of  other 
states  is  the  work  of  time,  is  the  result  of  experience, 
arrives  at  maturity  by  degrees.  Laws  and  restrictions, 
encouragements  and  restraints  are  suggested  by  events. 
But  when  the  great  Jehovah  condescends  to  become 
a  legislator,  the  utmost  extent  of  possibility  lying  open 
to  lijs  view,  provision  iij  made  from  the  beginning  for 
every  rase  that  can  happen.  The  rule  of  his  government 
is  laid  down  at  once;  and  the  civil  an;'  religious  con- 
stitution of  that  nation  over  which  he  chose  to  pre- 
side, is  established  by  a  wisdom  which  cannot  err. 

It  was  not  unpleasant,  as  we  were  contemplating 
the  scene  cxhibitt-d  in  the  preceding  chapter,  to  listen 
to  a  wise  and  good  man  giving  advice  with  respect  to 
the  administration  of  public  justice.  But  we  now 
tread  ujjon  holy  ground  ;  and  we  listen,  not  to  a  man 
like  ourselves,  but  to  the  only  wise  God.  The  whole 
taken  together  unfolds  an  unparalleled  display  of 
mercvaiwl  mujesl}  ,  of  goodness  and  grandeur. 

Forty-seven  days  have  now  elapsed,  since  that 
"  night  mudi  to  b^  remf  mbeicd,"  when  the  destroy- 
ing angel  walked  thr(Migh  the  midst  of  Egypt,  and 
slew  all  the  fusi-burn.  And  how  many  singular  and  in- 
teresting eveniy  h.a\e  taken  place  in  that  short  period  } 
The  Red  Sea  has  been  di\uied  ;  the  bitter  v^aters  of 
Marali  sweetened  ;  bread  irem  Heaven  rained  down  ; 
a  living  stream  extracted  iVuni  the  ilinty  rock  in  Ho- 
reb;  Amalek  diicemhled  !    Whether  ot  t lie  two  shall 


LECT.    XVII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  825 

U'c  most  admire,  the  greatness  of  the  works  which  God 
perluiiiis,  i)r  the  lacility  with  which  he  brings  them 
to  pass  ?  What  a  high  vahie  are  we  taught  to  put  upon 
time,  wht'ii  we  see  to  wfiat  vahiable  purposes,  through 
the  blessing  and  assistance  ot  Heaven,  a  little  time  may 
be  made  .sub.^ervient. 

'1  ijre-e  da\  s  more  are  em|»loyed  in  making  solemn 
preparation  lor  this  celestial  visitation  ;  so  that  the  law 
wai  delivered  exactly  on  the  hltieth  daj' after  the  cele- 
bration of  the  feast  ofpassover  :  and  in  commemoration 
of  ir,  the  Jewish  feast  ofPenticost  was  ever  after  obser- 
\v(\  and  rendered  illustrious  in  the  annals  of  the  chris- 
tian church,  by  a  new  dispensation,  not  of  terror,  but 
of  grace  :  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Spiritupon  the  apos- 
tles of  our  Lord,  in  the  miraculous  gift  of  tongues. 
Even  the  minute  circumstances  of  times  and  places, 
may  liavea  significancy  and  an  importance  of  which  we 
have  at  present  no  apprehension.  And  I  am  fully 
persuaded,  uhen  God  shall  be  pleased  to  vouchsafe  us 
a  clearer  light  and  fresh  discoveries  of  his  will,  number- 
less instances  of  coincidence  and  resemblance  between 
the  legal  and  evangelical  dispensations  shall  rush  upon 
u.s,  of  which  we  can  now  form  no  conception.  Why 
God  has  appointed  the  seventh  day  to  be  the  weekly 
sabbath;  why  the  law  was  proclaimed  from  Mount 
Siiiai  just  after  seven  times  seven  days  had  elapsed  from 
tbe  going  out  of  Egypt;  why,  in  the  possession  of 
Canaan,  the  land  was  to  be  permitted  to  rest  every 
seventh  year;  why  the  general  release,  or  year  of  jubi- 
Ke,  was  to  be  statedly  observed,  after  a  constant  revo- 
lution of  seven  times  seven  years  ;  and  why  the  Holy 
Gliost  was  given  ''  when  the  day  of  Penticost  was 
fully  come,"  or  after  seven  times  seven  days  from  the 
<lay  that  "  Christ  our  passover  was  sacrificed  lor  us?" 
Tiiese  are  questions  which  we  pretend  not  to  resolve. 
But  certain  it  is  these  things  have  a  meaning :  "  I 
know  it  not  now,  but  I  shall  know  it  hereafter." 

Sinai,  the  scene  of  this  splendid  exhibition,  is  the 
highest  eminence  of  a  vast  ridge  of  mountains,  which 

VOL.    II.  2  F 


^^5  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XV If, 

run  from  east  to  west  through  Arabia  Petrj^a,  as  you  go 
from  the  north-east  coast  of  the  Red  Sta  to  Pales- 
tine. The  adjoining  eminence  is  called  Horeh,  and 
is  icuicred  illustrious  by  the  miracle  of  the  water  issu- 
ing iVom  the  rock.  And  frc^n  their  propinquity,  and 
th.eir  forming  part  of  the  same  chain  of  mountains, 
they  areohen  put  the  one  for  the  other;  and  the  ad- 
jacent desert  country  is  called,  indiilerenlly,  the  wil- 
derness of  Horeh,  or  the  wilderness  of  Sinai. 

Moses  was  first  called  up  into  the  mount  alone,  and 
thence  sent  back  to  the  peo})le  with  repeated  messa- 
g(  s  full  of  tenderness  and  iove.  Preparation  was 
n^ade  for  the  tremendous  appearance  of  the  glory  of 
the  Lord,  by  the  most  gracious  and  reiterated  assur- 
ances of  favor  and  protection.  This  is  the  endearing 
language  which  the  great  God  condescends  to  employ 
on  the  occasion  ;  "  Ye  have  seen  what  I  did  unto  the 
Ei^yptians,  and  how  I  bare  you  on  eagle's  wings,  and 
brought  you  unto  myself  Now  therefore,  if  ye  will 
oliey  my  voice  indeed,  and  keep  my  covenant,  then  ye 
shliil  be  a  peculiar  treasure  ue.to  me  above  all  people; 
for  all  the  eaith  is  mifie.  And  ye  shall  be  unto  me  a 
kingdom  of  priests,  and  an  holy  nation.  These  are 
the  words  which  thcai  shalt  speak  unto  the  children  of 
Israel."  The  beautiful  image  of  the  eagle,  and  her 
yoiu^g  ones,  is  happy  lieyoiid  expression,  and  evident- 
ly proceeds  from  Him  from  whose  viev.'  no  part  of  the 
workl  of  nature  lies  concealed.  The  natural  history 
of  that  king  of  the  feathered  rr.ce,  were  this  the  time 
and  the  ])lace  to  introduce  it,  would  be  the  best  com- 
mentary on  the  passage.  But  we  may  at  least  stop  to 
illustrate,  by  comparing  it  with  the  same  image,  deli- 
n 'ated  by  the  masterly  hand,  with  stid  greater 
strength  of  coloring,  and  greater  force  and  variety  of 
expression.  "  For  the  Lord's  portion  is  his  people;  Ja- 
cob is  the  lot  of  his  inheritance.  Ha  found  him  in  a 
desert  land,  and  in  the  waste  howling  wild*  rness.;  he 
led  him  about,  he  instructed  him,  he  kept  him  as  the 


LECT.  XV 11.  HISTORY    OF  MO'jES.  52? 

apple  of  his  eye.  As  an  eat^Ie  stincth  up  lier  ir  st, 
fliiitereth  over  licr  \oiii)f'-,  spreiidctli  abroad  her  vvmg^, 
taketli  them,  hearelli  tliem  oti  her  wings;  so  the  Lord 
alone  did  lead  him,  and  there  was  no  stran^^e  Gi>d 
will)  him,  lie  made  him  ride  on  the  higli  pUces  of 
the  earth,  that  he  might  eat  the  increase  of  the  fields; 
and  lie  made  him  to  suck  honey  out  of  the  rock,  and 
oil  out  of  the  flinty  rock,"  Deut.  xxxii.  9,  &c.  The 
sagacity  and  vigilance  of  the  eagle  in  pi'oviding  the 
means  of  support  and  safety  for  her  callow  brood,  her 
strengtli  and  fierceness  in  delisntiing  them,  her  tender 
sympathy  with  tlieir  weakne>s,  her  anxiety  to  hasten  on 
their  maturity  and  capacity  to  pro\ide  lor  themsiKcs, 
the  pains  which  she  takes  to  instruct  them  to  tly....as 
they  are  fully  justified  by  facts,  so  they  me  conveyed 
to  us  in  language  the  most  simple,  plain  and  t kgant ; 
and  raise  us  to  the  contemplation  of  an  obje<..t,  of  all 
others  the  sublimest,  sweetest,  most  interesting,  and 
most  composing  to  the  soul.  They  rej)resent  lo  u', 
the  all-comprehending  view  of  eternal  Provider;ce,  the 
never-sleeping  eye  of  the  Watchman  of  Israel,  llie  unas- 
sailable protection  of  the  heavenly  Guiudian,  the  more 
than  maternal  care,  diligence  and  zeal  which  Jehovah 
continually  exercises  over  them  that  are  his.  "  Hap- 
py is  that  people  that  is  in  sue  ii  a  case  :  yea,  hap{)v  is 
that  people  whose  God  is  the  Lord,"  Psal.  cxiiv,  lo. 
As  friendship  between  God  and  Abraham,  the  fa- 
ther and  founder  of  that  great  nation,  commenced,  and 
was  confirmed  in  the  solemn  ratification  of  a  cove- 
nant, performed  according  to  rites  of  God's  own  ap- 
pointing; so  the  political  existence  and  importance  of 
that  nation  were  directed  to  take  their  rise  m  the  cut- 
ting or  DIVIDING  a  covenant,  with  similar  solemnities. 
And  this  was  the  tenor,  these  were  the  conditions  of 
it.  On  the  part  of  Israel,  in  one  word,  oheditnce  to 
the  voice  of  God;  submission  in  all  things  to'ihe  will 
of  their  best  friend,  and  kindest  benefactor,  who  could 
•  have  nothing  in  view   but  their   happiness.     On  the 


1^28  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XVII. 

part  of  God,  the  promise  of  a  profusion  of  blessings 
temporal,  spiritoal  and  cvcrlasiing  :  a  rank  among  tiiC 
nauons,  which  siiouid  i(.i)der  them  the  envy  and 
wonder  of  the  world  ;  -ou  establisliouDi,  which  length 
of  time  should  not  impair;  a  siKeet.sjon  <>i'  jirophets, 
of  priests  and  of  princes,  which  wa«  \o  issue  m  ti.e 
eternal  priesthood  and  unlimited  sovereignly  ol  orae, 
whose  government  was  to  be  an  universal  cwa]  ever- 
lasting blessing  to  them  and  to  mankind.  "  Ye  stjad 
be  a  peculiar  treasure,  unto  me  above  all  peoj)le  :  ibr 
all  the  earth  is  mine."  Sfgiiluh,  '*  a  peculiar  ttea> 
sure,"  sometl;ing  exceedingly  p.ized  and  sedulously 
preserved,  a  gem  of  pecuhar  lustre  and  value,  which  an 
affluent  and  powerful  prince  culls  out  bom  among 
many,  takes  under  his  own  particular  chargf ,  and 
will  not  entrust  to  the  care  of  another. 

Moses  takes  up  this  striking  idea  again  in  that  l)ean- 
tiful  song  of  praise,  in  vvhicii,  at  the  close  of  life,  lie 
recapitulates  the  wonderful  ways  of  Providence  to  that 
chosen  family:  "  Tlie  Lord's  portion  is  his  people ; 
Jacob  is  the  lot  of  his  inheritance,"  Dent,  x.xxii.  9. 
Tiie  promise  which  follovvs  in  the  sixth  verse,  is  wonder- 
fully calculated  to  inspire  ideas  of  dignity  and  im- 
portance ;  "  Ye  shall  be  unto  me  a  kingdom  of  pnesis, 
and  an  holy  nation."  They  had  Just  left  a  country 
where  the  p>riesthood  was  held  in  high  estimation  ; 
where  the  persons  of  those  who  bore  that  sacred  cha- 
racter were  inviolable,  and  their  property  exempted 
from  the  imposts  which  were  laid  upon  that  of  olher 
subjects.  But  the  peculiar  respect  paid  to  this  order 
of  men,  and  the  immunities  which  they  enjoyed,  serv- 
ed only  to  expose  more  glaringly  the  contrast,  the 
degradation  and  distress  of  the  great  body  of  the  peo- 
j)le.  Whereas  here  was  a  whole  nation  destined  of 
Heaven  to  equal  honors;  not  a  k.ng  and  subjects,  but 
a  commonwealth  of  kings  ;  not  onenjinistering  at  the 
altar  in  the  name  of  tliou^ands,  one  admitted  within 
the  veil,  and  myriads  removed  to  an  humbling,  morti- 


LECT.  XVII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  229 

fying  distance;  but  a  kinL^cloiii  of  priest.%  an  lioly  na- 
tion, majcbty  and  sanctity  in  (Mie. 

Tlu-.sc  are  the  uor«ls  which  iMoses  is  comn-innrlcd  fo 
rehearse  in  the  eais  of  all  the  people.  Havni'^  lic^c  ^nd- 
ed  from  the  m^unt,  he  collects  ilieni  accoidinf^fy  hy 
their  eldtfrs  ;  the  men  tirst  in  age,  (iistin  wisdom,  first 
in  diu,ntiy  and  authority  ;  and  delivers  to  them  the 
high  message  which  he  had  in  charge.  Impressed  at 
once  with  iiie  power  and  grace  ot  their  heavenly  King, 
they  as  one  man  reply,  "All  that  the  Lord  hath  spoken 
we  will  do."  ^Vhich  answer  Moses  again  reports  to 
his  dread  Employer.  Tlius,  in  t(je  very  preparatMcs 
for  the  publica  ion  of  the  law,  the  mediarion  o!  the 
gospel  was  clearly  taught  and  inculcated  ;  and  thns 
throughout  we  perceive  that  giiilty  creatures  can  have 
no  sale  nur  comfortable  access  to  a  holy  God,  hut  by 
means  of*'  a  days-man  to  lay  his  hands  upori  botij  ;" 
and  thus,  the  very  minisfer  of  a  fiery  law  exhibited  a 
type  of  that  great  High-Priest,  at  once  "merciful  aud 
faithful  ;"  "  lailhful  in  the  things  pertaining  to  Gi.d  ;" 
"  mercitul,  to  make  reconcihation  for  the  sins  of  the 
people." 

Moses  is  upon  this  informed,  that  God  intended  on 
the  third  day  from  that  time  to  mande^t  himseif  to  all 
the  people  as  the  Leader  and  Ruler  oi'tliat  vast  armj, 
and  as  the  Employer  and  Patron  of  Aioses  his  propiiet, 
in  a  manner  tliac  siiiuld  leave  no  room  to  doubt  in 
whose  name  he  spake,  and  by  what  authority  he 
acted  :  "And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Lo,  I  come 
unto  thee  in  a  thick  cloud,  that  the  p-eople  may  hear 
when  I  speak  with  thee,  and  believe  thee  Ibrcver.  And 
Moses  told  the  words  of  the  peoj)Ie  unto  tl)e  Lord." 
"  I  come  to  thee  in  a  thick  cloud."  God  aheady  resi- 
ded among  Lsrael,  and  presided  over  them  in  a  pillar 
of  fire  and  a  cloud.  Bat  whatever  be  the  medirm  of 
communication  between  the  Deity  and  his  creatures, 
it  is  capable  of  bemg  increased  and  improved  beyond 
imagination.     There  is  a  darkness  grossei,  and  a  cloud 


2J0  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XVII. 

thicker  and  more  awfully  impregnated,  than  any  of 
which  we  have  had  experience.  There  is  a  voice 
louder,  and  a  glory  brighter  tlian  any  which  we  have 
htard  or  seen.  Who  can  declare,  v\  ho  can  conceive 
the  utmost  extent  of  the  power  of  the  Almighty  ? 
ll^ere  is  a  splendor  infinitely  superior  to  thai  of  "  the 
sun  shining  in  his  streniith."  There  may  be  an  angel 
excelling  in  might ;  "  Gabriel,  who  stands  in  the  pres- 
ence of  Gad."  Know  we  e\er  so  miKi),  there  is  a 
field  of  discovery  before  us  infinite  as  the  immensity 
of  Jehovah,  to  employ  a  duration  of  inquiry  endless 
as  his  eternity. 

A  command  is  now  issued  to  the  people  to  employ 
themselves  that  day  and   the  next  in  solemn   pre{;ara- 
tion  for  this  august  visit.     They  are  diiected  as  an  ex- 
ternal mark  of  respect  to  the  most  holy  God,   as  a  to- 
ken of  obedience,  and  as  an  indication  of  inward  puri- 
ty, to  uash   their    clothes,  to   abstain  from   whatever 
might  defile  the  body  or  the  mind,  and  even  to   deny 
themselves   such  innocent  and  lawful    gratitications  as 
might  have  a  tendency  to  disturb  their  attention  and 
distract  their  thoughts.     When  God  came  to  give  the 
law,  he  came  after   solemn  warning,  he  gave  evident 
signs  of  his  approach,  he  declared  to  a  moment   when 
he  was  to  be   heard  and  seen  in  his  majesty.     But, 
v.'hen  he  shall  come  to  execute  tlie  law,  we  are  inform- 
ed that  he  shall  take  the  world    by  surprise,  that  men 
may  be  always  ready.     "  Bthold  I  will  come  on  thee 
as  a  thit4",  and  thou  shalt  not    know   what  hour  1   will 
come  upon  thee,"  Rev.  u\.3.     "  Walch  therefore:  for 
ye  know  not  what  hour  your  Lord  doth  come,"  Matt, 
xxiv.  A'2.     "  Be  ye  also  ready  :   for  m  such  an  hour  as 
ye  tliink  not,  the  Son  oi  Man  cometh,"  Malt.  xxiv.  44. 
When  but  a  friend  or  neighbor  is  expected  to   visit 
us,  decency  requires  that   our  persons,  our  houses,  or 
entertainment,    be  rendered  as   inoffensive   and  as  ac- 
iTptalJe  as  we  can  make  them.     The  anxiety  which 
men  Itel,  and  the  pains  which  they  take  to  receive  and 


LECT.  XVII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  231 

entertain  their  superiors,  is  too  well  known  to  need  any 
remark.  It  is  only  when  the  King  ol'  kinn:>^,  cnid  the 
Lord  of  lords  ainjonnces  his  approach,  that  men  are 
incnrious,  unce'emonious,  careless  and  indiiK  rent, 

Tiie  great  Jeliovah  \\as  to  mai)ii'est  himself  first  to 
th*^'  e^e.  "  Be  ready  against  the  thu'd  day  ;  lor  the 
thiril  dav  the  Lord  will  come  down,  in  the  sijrht  ot" 
all  the  people,  npon  monnt  Sinai."  All  is  hitherto 
attractive  and  enconraging.  The  face  of  God  is  cloth- 
ed with  smiles.  He  conies  "  to  dwell  with  men  n{>on 
earth.'*  But  the  grace  and  condescension  ot  God, 
while  they  invite  'o  the  commmiications  of  friendsliip, 
forhid  the  boldness  and  freedom  of  fiamiliarity.  While 
he  makes  himself  known  as  w  Father,  a  Protector,  a 
Guide,  he  permits  us  not  to  forget  that  he  is  at  the 
same  time  **  a  great  God,  and  a  great  King."  There- 
fore a  strict  injunciion  is  given  in  the  twelfth  and  thir- 
teenth verses,  "And  thou  shalt  set  bounds  unto  the 
people  round  about,  saying,  i  ake  heed  to  yourselves, 
that  ye  go  not  up  into  the  mount,  or  toucli  the  border 
of  it :  whosoever  toucheih  the  monnt  shall  surely  be 
put  to  death.  There  shall  not  an  hand  tou'^.h  if,  but 
he  sliall  surely  be  stoned,  or  shot  through  ;  whetlier  it 
be  beast  or  man,  it  shall  not  live:  when  the  trumpet 
soundeth  long,  ye  shall  come  up  to  the  mount."  Ttiis 
last  expression,  "When  the  trumpet  soundeth  long, 
ye  shall  come  up  to  the  mount,"  is  evidently  a  cau- 
tion and  a  threatening,  not  an  invitation;  and  seems 
to  import,  "  Let  him  wlio  dares  presume  to  approach 
nearer;  let  him  come  up  in;o  the  mount,  if  he  will." 
At  the  sound  of  that  tremendous  trumpet,  they  were 
ready  to  sink  into  the  earth  with  terror  instead  of  de- 
siring or  attempting  a  nearer  intercourse  with  the 
great  and  terrible  God,  who  hath  put  all  nature  into 
consternation. 

As  they  were  commanded,  so  they  did.  All  impu- 
rity is  caretiilly  removed;  and  they  see,  in  solemn 
silence  and  earnest  expectation,  in  hope  mingled  with 


232  -  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    XVII. 

fear,  the  gradual  approach  of  this  all-important,  this 
eventful  day. 

At  length,  in  all  its  pomp  and  importance,  the  third 
day  arraeb.  £\er3- creatsire,  every  eienRui  f(  els  and 
gives  uitne^?:  to  tlie  appearance  of  its  God,  Heaven 
and  eanh,  angels  and  men,  the  water  and  the  land, 
air  and  hre,  announce  tiie  presence  of  their  great  Cre- 
ator and  Ruler.  1  tremble  as  1  read.  What  must  it 
have  been  to  see  and  hear }  '*  And  it  came  to  pass  on 
the  tliird  day  in  the  morning,  that  there  were  thun- 
ders, and  liglitnings,  and  a  thick  cloud  upon  the 
nioutif,  and  the  voice  of  the  trumpet  exceeding  loud  ; 
so  that  all  the  people  that  was  in  tiie  camp  trembled." 
L,o,  the  hoarse  thunder  is  lost  in  the  louder  sound  of 
the  trumpet ;  and  that  awiul  sound,  in  its  turn  sinks 
into  silence,  before  the  all-penetrating,  all-command- 
ing accents  of  the  voice  of  God  hunsell".  The  thick 
darkness  of  a  cloud,  impregnated  with  the  terrors  of 
divine  justice,  tbreatens  one  moment  to  extinguish 
forever  hope  and  joy;  and  that  darkness  the  next 
moment  is  dispelled  by  the  more  terrible  flashes  of  ce- 
lestial tire.  How  poor  the  state  of  an  earthly  prince 
compared  to  this  !  "  God  makrth  his  angels  spirits,  his 
ministers  a  tlame  of  tire."  What  heart  is  nor  melted 
in  the  midst  of  this  wild  uproar  ?  There  is  not  an  ob- 
ject oi'  astonishment  which  we  are  acquainted  with, 
but  what  enters  into  tl)is  description.  Thunder,  light- 
ning, blackness  of  darkness,  tempest,  earthquake,  the 
trumpet  of  God  ;  and  -all  the^e  are  but  the  coverings 
of  terror,  the  harbingers  of  majesty  and  might.  Be- 
hold, God  is  in  the  thunder,  in  the  lighining,  in  the 
tempest,  in  the  earihquake!  they  are  meie  instru- 
ments to  do  his  pleasure. 

]3ut  we  are  directed  to  one  object  perfectly  placid 
and  composed  m  the  midsi  of  tumult  and  coiiiUMun  : 
"  even  when  the  voice  of  the  trumpet  sounded  long 
and  waxed  exceeding  loud,"  Moses  possessed  his  soul 
in  jiatience.  "  Moses  sp;;ke,  and  God  answered  him 
by  a  voice."     It  is  a  guilt  tiiat  gives  ioice  loine,  that 


LBCT.  XVII.  HIBTORY  OF  MOSES.  255. 

lends  fury  to  the  stormy  wind,  that  shakes  the  earth  by- 
first  shaking  the  soul.  Faith  in  God  controls  the  ele- 
ments, and  soothejj  the  soul  to  rest  in  communion  with 
God,  as  tlie  child  tails  asleep  in  the  loud  maternal 
bosom. 

Moses  comes  up  at  the  command  of  Him  wUo  is 
King  and  Lord  of  nature,  and  therefore  he  has  nothng 
to  fear.  The  three  children  fall  doww  bound  in  the 
midst  of  the  burning  fiery  furnace,  but  the  flames  have 
no  power  to  kindle  upon  them;  they  consume  only 
the  cords  with  which  they  are  bound ;  they  them- 
selves walk  at  liberty  through  the  midst  of  the  lire: 
they  rest  as  on  a  bed  of  roses,  for  behold  another  is 
in  com|)any  with  them,  and  "  the  form  of  the  fourth 
is  like  the  Son  of  God."  Daniel  sleeps  secure  in  the 
den  among  lions,  more  composedly  than  Darius  in  hi» 
palacf,  surrounded  by  hisotficers  and  guards;  he  sleeps 
calmly,  as  a  father  in  the  midst  of  his  children.  He 
who  fears  God  has  nothing  else  to  fear. 

But  what  new  doctrine  is  to  be  ushered  in  under 
all  this  formidable  apparatus?  What  law,  unknown, 
unheard  of  before,  is  to  be  introduced  and  enforced 
bv  ceremonies  so  dreadfully  august  and  solemn  .?  Just 
that  which  was  from  tlie  beginning,  that  which  the 
finger  of  God  more  silently  and  curiously  interwove 
with  the  very  texture  and  frame  of  the  human  soul. 
The  voice  of  God  says,  from  the  heights  of  Sinai, 
none  other  things  than  those  which  conscience  speak* 
to  every  man,  from  the  deep  recesses  of  his  own  breast. 
It  is  this  tliat  gives  weight  to  both  the  law  and  the 
gospel,  Tbey  have  their  counterpart  in  the  nature  and 
condition  of  man.  They  are  of  God,  who  knows 
what  is  iii  man  and  what  is  good  for  man. 

But  can  He  whose  "  presence  fills  heaven  and  earth," 
change  his  place?  Can  God  be  said  to  ascend,  or  de- 
scend ?  The  devout  eye  sees  him  in  every  creature,  in 
every  place,  in  every  event.  The  pious  soul  feels 
and    acknowledges  him  incessantly.       But   to  rouse 

V«L.   II.  S  G 


2S4  K'ISTORY  OF  MOSES.  2.ECT.  XVIlt 

Stupidity,  to  reprove  carelessness,  to  convince  infidelity, 
God  must  assume  state,  clothe  himself  with  thunder, 
involve  the  top  of  Ssnai  in  clouds,  and  shake  itstbunda- 
tion.  As  in  the  coiiiposure  of  Moses  we  behold  the 
confidence  of  divine  friendsl)ip,  and  the  security  arising 
from  uiiion  with  God,  so  in  the  caution  which  is  given 
ill  the  twenty-first  verse,  *'  Go  down,  charge  tlie  people, 
lest  they  break  through  unto  the  Lord  to  gaze,  and 
many  of  them  perish,"  we  see  the  danger  of  unlicensed 
curiosity,  of  presumptuous  boldness.  Fire  and  dark- 
ness equally  repel  and  intimidate,  equally  compose 
and  encourage.  All  the  dealings  of  God  with  man, 
are  *'  line  upon  line,  and  precept  upon  precept." 

The  similitude  of  the  legal  and  evangelical  dispensa- 
tions, and  their  ditlerence,  would  necessarily  occupy 
a  much  larger  portion  of  your  time  and  attention  than 
now  remains.  It  were  better,  therefore,  to  bring 
them  together  in  one  discourse  calculated  for  the 
-purpose. 

I  conclude  the  present  Lecture  with  simply  reading 
two  or  three  short  passages  of  scripture,  closely  con- 
nected with  and  serving  to  illustiate  our  .subject ;  writ- 
ten at  two  very  ditferent  periods,  and  m  two  very  dif- 
fere«t  states  of  the  church.  Tlie  first  is  in  the  history 
of  Eiijah,  the  great  restorer  of  the  law,  near  six  hun- 
dred years  afterward.  '*  And  he  aro>^e,  and  did  eat 
and  dnnk,  and  went  in  the  strength  of  that  meat  forty- 
days  and  forty  nights,  unto  Horeb,  the  mount  of 
God.  And  he  came  thither  unto  a  cave  and  lodged 
there.  And  behold,  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to 
him  ;  and  he  said  unto  him.  What  doest  thou  here, 
Elijali?  And  he  said,  1  have  been  very  jealous  for  the 
Lord  God  of  hosts  :  for  the  children  of  Israel  have 
fbrfaken  thy  covenant,  thrown  down  thine  altars,  and 
slam  thy  prophets  with  the  sword;  and  1,  even  1  only 
anrleft ;  and  they  seek  my  lile,  to  take  it  away.  And 
he  said.  Go  forth,  and  stand  upon  the  mount  before 
the  Lord.    And  behold  the  Lord  passed  by,  and  a  great 


LECT.  XVII.  tflLTORY  OF  MOSE^.  $55 

and  strong  wind   rent  the  mountains,    and  brake   in 
pieces  the  rocks  belbre   the  Lord  ;  biit   the  Lord  was 
not  in  the    wind:   and  after  the   wind  an  earthquake; 
but    the   Lord  was  not  in  the  earth(jiiak(  :   and  alien* 
the  earth(]uake   a  tire ;  but  the   Lord   was  not  in  the 
lire:  and  after  the  lire  j  a  still  small    voice.      And  it 
was  so,   when    Elijah    iieaid   it,  that    he  wrapped  his 
face  in  his  mantle,  and  went  out,  and  stood  in  the  en- 
tering in  ofthe  cave:  and  behold,  there  came  a  voice 
unto  him,  and    said.   What  doest    thou  here,    Elijah? 
And  he  said,  1   have  been  very    jealous  for  the  Lord 
God  of  hosts  :  because  the  children  of  Israel  have  for- 
saken thy  covenant,  thrown   down  thine  altars,  and 
slain  thy  prophets  with  the  sword;  and  I,  even.  I  only 
am  left,  and  they  seek   my    Jife,  to  take  it    uuny," 
1  Kings,  xix.  8,  &c.     The  second  is  the  winding  up  cf 
that  wonderful  comparison  and  contrast  of  the  lau 
and  the  gospel,  which  constitute  the  great   body  of 
the  epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  and  wliich  the  apostle  sums 
up  in  these  remarkable  words,  sixty-four  years  alter 
the  advent  of  Jesus  Christ.     "For  ye   are   not  come 
unto  the  mount  that  might  be  touched,  and  that  burned 
with  fire,  nor  unto  blackness,  nor  darkness,  and  tem- 
pest, and  the  sound   of  a  trumpet,  and  the   voice  of 
words  ;  which  voice  they  that  heard  entreated  tliat  the 
word  should  not  be  spoken   to  them  any  more.     For 
they  could  not   endure  that   which  was  commanded. 
And  if  so  much  as  a  beast  touch  the  mountain,  it  shall 
be  stoned,  or  thrust   through   with  a  dart.     And  so 
terrible  was  the  sight  that  Moses  said,  I   exceedingly 
fear  and  quake.     But  ye  are  come  unto  mount  Sion, 
and  unto  the  city  of  the  living  God,  the  heavenly  Je- 
rusalem, and  to  an  innumerable  company    of  angels  : 
to  the  general  assembly  and  church  of  the   tirst-born, 
which  are  written  in   heaven,  and  to  God  the  judge  of 
all,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect.  And 
to  Jesus   the   mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  and  to 
the  blood  of  sprinkling,  that  speakcth  better    tilings 


256  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XVII. 

than  that  of  Abel.  See  that  ye  refuse  not  him  that 
speaketh  :  for  if  they  escaped  not  who  refused  him  that 
spake  on  earth,  much  more  shall  not  we  escape  if  we 
turn  away  from  him  tliat  speaketh  from  heaven :  whose 
voice  then  shook  the  earth  :  but  now  he  hath  promised, 
saying.  Yet  once  more  I  shake  not  the  earth  only, 
b^t  aJso  heaven.  And  this  word.  Yet  once  more,  sig- 
nifieth  the  removing  of  those  things  that  are  shaken> 
as  of  things  that  are  made,  that  those  things  which  can- 
not be  shaken  may  remain.  Wherefore  we  receiving 
a  kingdom  which  cannot  be  moved,  let  us  have  grace, 
■whereby  we  may  serve  God  acceptably,  with  reverence 
and  godly  fear.  For  our  God  is  a  consuming  fire/' 
lieb.  xii.  18,  &c. 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  XVIir. 


According  as  we  hearkened  unto  Moses  in  all  ihirigs^  so 
zvill  tee  hearken  unto  Ihee  ;  onLi  the  Lord  thy  Ood  be 
tvilh  thee,  as  he  was  zvith  AJoses....,]oshiUA  i.   i/. 

JTor  the  law  zvas  given  hi/  Moses,  but  grace  and  truth 
came  by  Jesus  Christ. ...Johh  \.  17- 

IN  forming  estimates  of  greatness,  it  is  natural  for 
men  to  consult  their  senses,  not  their  reason.  ^Vita 
the  idea  of  royal  majesty  we  connect  those  of  a  eliair 
of  state,  a  numerous  and  splendid  retinne,  an  ermine 
robe,  a  sceptre  and  a  crown.  But  wisdom  and  good- 
ness are  the  qualities  which  confer  real  dignity,  and 
command  just  homage  and  respect.  Our  preconcep- 
tions of  earrhiy  mugnificence  much  exceed  the  trii!;i, 
and  knowledge  speedily  levels  the  fabric  which  ima- 
gination had  raised.  But  the  wonders  of  nature,  the 
mighty  works  of  God,  grow  upon  us  as  we  contem- 
plate them.  No  intimacy  of  acquaintance  reduces 
their  magnitude  or  tarnishes  their  lustre.  And  if  the 
very  frame  of  nature,  the  vastness,  the  variety,  the 
harmony  and  the  splendor  of  the  visible  creation  be 
calculated  to  fill  us  with  astonishment  and  delight, 
how  must  the  plan  of  Providence,  the  wo»k  of  redemp- 
tion, the  great  mystery  of  godliness,  excel  in  glory  1 
In  the  discoveries  which  it  has  pleased  God,  at  sun- 


5.JS  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XVlIh 

t]vy  times  and  in  divers  manners  to  make  of  himself 
to  mankind,  he  has  at  one  time  addressed  himself 
♦  lirectly  to  the  understanding;  at  another,  made  his 
way  to  the  heart  and  conscience  through  the  channel 
ol  siense.  The  law  was  given  in  every  circumstance 
of  external  pomp;  it  was  accompanied  with  every- 
thing  tliat  could  dazzle  the  eye,  fill  the  ear,  and  rouse 
the  nnagination.  The  kingdom  of  God,iu  the  gospel 
of  his  "Son,  came  not  with  observation."  Th*^  great 
A'.iihor  ot'the  dispensation  of  grace,  according  as  it 
was  {)redicted  concerning  him,  "  did  not  strive,  nor  cry, 
nor  cause  his  voice  to  be  heard  in  the  streets."  He 
had,  in  the  eyes  of  an  undiscerning  world,  "no  form 
nor  comeliness,  no  beauty  why  he  should  be  desired." 
And  therefore  **  he  was  despised  and  rejected  of  men." 
But  we  are  taught  to  tiiink  very  differently  of  his  second 
j/ppearance.  **  He  shall  come  in  the  clouds  of  heaven» 
with  power  and  great  glory  :"  *^ln  his  Father's  glory» 
r.nd  all  hi*  holy  angels:"  "With  the  voice  of  the  arch-r 
angel,  and  the  trump  of  God." 

The  manner  of  delivering  the  law  corresponded  uitli 
its  nature.  It  was  clothed  with  thunder.  It  was  sui- 
lounded  with  the  blackness  of  darkness.  It  emitted 
iiaming  fire..  It  denounced  death.  The  spirit  of  the 
gospel,  in  like  manner,  breathed  in  the  mode  of  its 
publication.  The  doctrine  of  peace  and  reconciliation 
was  delivered  to  men,  in  the  tenoerest  accents  of  hu- 
man friendship.  And  temporal  mercies  and  deliver- 
ances  prepared  the  way  lor  "  spiritual  and  hea\enly 
B)'essings  in  Christ  Jesus." 

We  are  now  to  bring  these  two  dispensations  toge- 
ther, and  to  compare  the  one  with  the  other,  in  order 
that  v\e  may  discover  and  admire  that  uniformity  of 
design  which  they  jointly  aim  at  promoting,  the  mu- 
tual lustre  which  they  shed  upon,  and  the  mutual  aid 
which  they  Itnd  to  each  other, 

Hy  "  the  law"  we  understand  the  whole  of  that 
ic'ucmc  of  the  divine  providence  which  related  to  the 


LtCT.  XVIII.  HISTORY    OF  MOSES.  259 

posterity  of  Abraham  ;  tbe  promises  which  wore  male 
to  them,  the  ordinances  prescribed,  the  character 
which  tl)ey  bear,  the  t-vcnts  whicli  befcl  them,  from 
the  day  in  which  that  patriarch  left  liis  kin<hed  and 
country,  till  the  day  wlien  the  whole  was  swallow  c'<l 
up  and  lost  in  the  pt-rsun,  doctrines,  ordniances,  life, 
sutlcrnics  and  death  of  Mmi,  who  was  held  up  troin 
the  bciiinning  as  the  great,  leading:,  commanding  o!.«- 
jictin  the  eternal  eye;  the  acctimplishment  of  the 
promises,  the  substance  of  the  types  and  shadows,  \\if 
'*en:l  of  the  law  for  righteoubuess  to  every  one  that 
belicveth." 

Moses  and  Christ  frequently  speak  of  their  mutual 
relation  and  resemblance.  "  1  will  raise  them  ujj," 
tays  God  by  Moses,  *'a  propliet  from  among  their 
brethren,  like  unto  thee,  and  will  put  my  words  in 
bis  mouth,  and  he  shall  speak  unto  them  all  that  1 
shall  command  him.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that; 
who.soever  wil^not  hearken  unto  my  words,  which  he 
shall  speak  in  my  name,  I  will  require  it  of  him," 
Deut.  xviii.  18,  19.  "Search  the  scriptures,"  says 
Christ,  "ibrinthem  ye  think  ye  have  eternal  hie: 
and  they  are  they  which  testily  of  me.  For  had  ye 
believed  Moses,  ye  would  have  believed  me;  lor  he 
wrote  of  me.  But  if  ye  believe  not  his  writings,  how 
shall  ye  believe  my  words  r"  John  v.  39,  &e. 

The  persons,  characters  and  offices  of  the  two  le- 
gislators, therefore,  naturally  fall  to  be  first  considered, 
in  tracing  the  resemblance  of  the  two  covenants  which 
were  established  with  mankind  through  their  mediation. 

Of  the  birth  of  Moses,  and  salvation  to  Israel  by 
him,  there  seems  to  have  been  a  general  expectation 
ill  his  own  nation,  and  an  apprehension  of  such  an 
event  as  general  in  the  minds  of  the  Egyptian?. 
Hence  the  bloody  decree  of  Pharaoh  to  destroy  from 
the  womb  all  the  male  children  of  the  Hebrews;  and 
hence,  on  the  other  hand,  that  eagerness  to  save  a 
child,  who,  from  the  moment  of  its   birth,  exhibited 


KISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.   XVIII, 

unequivocal  si$;ns  of  his  future  greatness  and  useful- 
ness, Wlien  Christ  came  into  the  world,  multitudes 
were  iouking  for  the  Consolation  of  Israel."  The  pro- 
jjhecies  c()iicerning,  tlje  promises  of  tlie  Messiah, 
wt-re  evitleiiily  hastening  to  fuitiil  themselves.  The 
J<-.vs  expected  their  king:  Herod  dreaded  a  rival. 
The  person  of  the  promised  Saviour  was  pointed  out 
by  signs  in  heaven  and  signs  on  earth,  which  it  was 
imjio^sible  to  misunderstand.  An  extraordinary  star 
describes  an  unknown  path  through  the  air  to  the 
jiiace  of  his  birth.  A  multitude  of  the  heavenly  host 
pioclaim  the  joyful  event  to  the  shepherds.  It  was 
revealed  unto  Simeon  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  **  that  he 
should  not  see  death,  before  he  had  seen  the  Lord's 
Christ,"  Luke  ii.  i?6.  Conducted  of  the  Spirit  he  came 
into  the  temple  at  the  moment  when  Christ  was  pre- 
sented there,  according  to  the  law.  He  recognizes 
the  [)romised  of  the  Lord,  and  closes  his  eyes  in  peace. 
Anna  tlie  prophetess,  instructed  by  tlie  same  Spirit, 
gives  a  similar  testimony,  and  speaks  of  "  the  holy 
child  to  ail  them  that  looked  for  redemption  in  Jeru- 
salem," Luke  ii.  58. 

The  circum.stancesof  extreme  danger  which  attend- 
ed the  birth  of  Moses  and  of  Clirist,  and  the  wonder- 
ful n^eans  of  iheir  preservation  and  deliverance,  con- 
stitute a  striking  mark  of  resemblance  between  them. 
Behold  the  long-looked-for  deliverer  of  the  Jewish 
(^hurch  and  nation,  ready  to  perish  by  the  hand  of 
Pharaoh  :  and  the  great  King  and  Head  of  the  chris- 
fian  world  threatened  by  the  murdering  dagger  of  the 
tciritrch  of  Galilee  j  while  the  earth  was  watered  with 
the  blood  ot  iheir  ini'iuit  brethren.  Moses  is  saved 
from  destruction  by  the  daughter  of  tiie  tyrant  who 
scaight  his  lite  ;  he  hnds  an  asylum  and  a  school  in  the 
house  which  he  wasdestineil  to  plague  and  to  humble. 
And  Jesus  uf  Nazerth  fhids  shelter  in  Egypt  from  the 
fury  and  jealousy  of  Herod. 

The  personal  beauty    and  accomplishments  of  the 


lEC T.  XVIII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  241 

Israelitish  law-giver  were  probably  intended  to  lypifr 
in  an  inferior  degree,  tlie  personal  glory  and  excellen- 
cy oi"  Him,  concerning \vlio;n  the  propliet  ilju>  xvrites, 
*'  I  iiou  art  fairer  than  the  children  of  men  ;  grace 
is  ponred  into  tliy  lips  :  thereibre  God  Ijalli  blessed 
thee  forever,"  Psal.  xlv.   2. 

The  wretched  state  ot  Israel  when  Moses  was  born, 
anfl  of  the  world  when  Christ  came  to  save  it,  are  a 
nil  ianeholy  and  ail'ecting  counterpart  to  each  other. 
The  former  sul)jected  to  the  arbiirary  authority  of  a 
sangninary  tyrant ;  the  latter,  in  dreadful  captivity  to 
the  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,  "  that  murderer 
from  the  beginning;"  **  that  spirit  which  ruleth  in  the 
chiidren  of  disobedience." 

T.ieir  menial  qualities  present  a  lovely  and  an  in- 
structive siiniliuhle.  "  Now  the  man  Moses  was  very 
meek,  above  all  the  men  which  were  upon  the  iace  of 
the  eartij,"  Numb.  xii.  3.  *'  Take  my  yoke  upon 
yon  and  learn  of  me,  lor  1  am  meek  and  lou  ly  in  heart, 
a:  (1  ve  sliail  find  rest  unto  y<'ur  sou  s,"  Matt.  x\.  '29- 
Compassion  tor  his  alHieted  brethren,  early  discovered 
tlie  temper,  and  ma;ked  the  character  of  Moses,  the 
man  of  God.  Svmpaihy  with  the  miserable,  and  that 
sympathy  eilecting  seasonable  leltci  tor  them,  niaiked 
the  paths  of  the  Sn  of  God  througij  a  world  of  wretch- 
edness. "  I  have  compassion  on  the  multitude,  be- 
cause tliey  continue  now  with  me  three  days,  and  nave 
nothing  to  eat:  and  I  will  not  send  them  a^\dy 
fasiing,  lest  they  faint  by  the  way,"  xv.  S"-!.  "  Wi.en 
he  saw  tlie  multitudes,  he  was  moved  with  cojnpassion 
on  them,  because  they  fainted,  antl  were  scattered 
abroad  as  sheep  having-  no  shepherd,"  ix.  36.  Ovec 
tiie  grave  of  Lazarus  '*  Je-us  wept."  *'  Wlien  he  w«s 
come  near,  he  beheld  the  city  and  wept  over  it,  saving. 
If  thou  hadst  known,  even  thou,  at  least  in  thts  thy 
day,  the  thiii«<s  wiiici  belong  unt(;  thy  peace  !  but  now 
tliey  are  hid  tVom  thine  ej'cs,"  Lvike  xix.  4U  4!2. 

U  ne  ollices  winch  Mo.»es  and  Cnnst  were  called  of 

VOL.   II.  i2    H 


242  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    XVllI: 

Providence  to  execute,  present  us  with  points  of  like^ 
ness  wliich  it  is  impossible  not  to  see,  and  equally  im- 
possible lo  mistake.  "  And  there  arose  not  a  prophet 
siiice  in  Israel  like  unto  Moses,  whom  the  Lord  knew 
face  to  face  ;  in  all  the  signs  and  wonders  u  hich  the 
Lord  sent  him  to  do  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  to  Pharaoh 
and  to  all  his  ser\ants,  and  to  all  his  land  ;  and  in  all 
that  mighty  hand,  and  in  all  that  great  terror,  which 
Alo^es  shewed  in  the  sight  of  all  Isiael,"  Dent,  xxxiv. 
10,  <Scc.  No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time;  the 
only  begotten  Son,  which  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Fa- 
ther, he  hath  declared  him,"  John  i.  18.  Moses  was 
king  in  Jeshurun,  and  conducted  the  thousands  of  Is- 
rael through  many  difficulties  and  dangers  lo  their  des- 
tined habitation  :  Jesus,  God's  "  anointed  King 
over  his  lioly  hill  of  Zion,"  brmgs  his  "  many"  spiri- 
tual '*  sons  unto  glory," 
^  To  constitute  one  deliverer  for  Israel,  Moses  and 
Aaron  must  unite  their  talents,  must  combine  their 
force,  must  conjoin  their  oOlces  :  tlie  prophet  must  co* 
operate  vvitlj  the  priest  ;  two  distinct  persons  carry  on 
oiie  design  ;  but,  in  tliC  Saviour  of  the  world,  all  ta- 
lents, all  virtues,  ail  offices  meet  and  centre  :  the  pro- 
phetic inspiration  of  Moses,  Aaron's  pleasantness  and 
grace  of  speech;  the  regal  dignity  of  the  one,  the  sa- 
cerdotal punty  of  the  other.  In  order  to  put  Israel  in 
possession  of  the  promised  Jand,  Joshua  must  succeed 
to  Moses,  and  happily  finish  what  his  master  has  so 
successively  begun.  But  the  great  Captain  of  salva- 
tion needs  no  coadjutor,  can  have  no  successor  :  "  He 
gives  grace  and  glory  ;"  He  leads  his  redeemed  through 
the  wilderness,  introduces  them  into  Canaan,  maintains 
them  in  quiet  and  everlasting  possession. 

Oiher  lines  of  resemblance  will  aj^pear  as  we  prose- 
cute the  history,  and  shall  not  therefore  be  anticipated. 

£lU  we  must  not  dismiss  the  subject,  wiihout  point- 
ing out  whcrcirs  the  likeness  fads,  and  Ijow  much  the 
type  falls  ihort  of  the  object  which  it  represents. 


LECT.  XVIII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  243 

The  wondcTs  performed  by  Moses  in  Ejrypt  wrre 
wrought  by  a  power  del(^<;aied  to,  and  conitrred  upon 
him  lor  the  purpose,  The  miradts  of"  Christ  were 
produced  bv  a  power  original  and  inherent.  Moses, 
though  the  meekest  ol  all  men,  was  betrayed  into  rash- 
ness, lost  temper,  and  "spake  unadvisedly  with  his 
lips."  Bur  in  Jesus  behold  a  spirit  which  was  never 
rufilc  d,  a  tongue  in  which  guile  was  never  found  ;  lips 
that  never  otl'ended  ;  a  mind  which  no  insult  could 
disturb,  no  unkindness  provoke;  nor  even  the  horrid 
pangs  of  an  unmerited  death  rouse  to  resentment. 
*' Holy  brethren,  partakers  of  the  heavenly  calling, 
consider  the  Apostle  and  High  Priest  of  our  profession, 
Christ  Jesu-s;  who  was  faithful  to  liim  that  appointed 
him,  as  also  Moses  was  laitliful  in  all  his  house.  For 
this  man  v\  as  counted  worthy  of  more  glor}'  than  Moses, 
inasmuch  as  he  who  hath  builded  tije  house  hath  more 
honor  than  the  house.  For  every  house  is  builded  by 
some  man  ;  but  be  that  built  all  things  is  God.  And 
Moses  verily  was  faithful  in  all  his  house  as  a  servant, 
for  a  testimony  of  those  things  which  v/ere  to  be  spoken 
after ;  but  Christ  as  a  Son  over  his  ov/n  house  ;  whose 
house  are  we,  if  we  hold  fast  the  confidence,  and  the 
rejoicing  of  hope  firm  unto  the  end,"  Heb.  iii.  1,  &c. 

"  Moses  died  and  was  buried  ;  Jesus  died  and  was 
buried,  and  rose  again."  Moses  received  the  law; 
Christ  gave  it.  Moses  and  Elias  attend  the  Saviour 
on  mount  Tabor,  as  his  ministering  servants;  JesHs 
receives  their  attendance  and  homage,  as  their  Lord. 

Having  spoken  of  the  resemblance  between  the  au- 
thors of  the  two  dispensations,  we  proceed,  as  was  pro- 
posed, to  speak  in  the  same  view  of  the  two  dispensa- 
tions themselves. 

And  first.  They  rest  on  one  and  the  same  authority, 
are  dictated  by  the  same  unerring  wisdom,  and  are 
directed  to  the  same  great  and  glorious  end.  Indeed, 
one  of  the  great  proofs  that  both  are  of  God  is  the 
conformity  of  both  to  the  nature  and  condition  of  man. 


244  .         HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XVIII. 

The  precepts  of  the  law  are  not  novel  constitutions, 
which  bdA  no  exj>tence  till  the  days  of  Moses  j  nei- 
ther dm  the  consolations  of  the  gospel  new  discoveries 
of  grace,  unheard  of  till  the  four  thou.^andth  year  of 
thewoiH.  Sinai  thundered  and  lightened  in  Adam's 
conscience  the  moment  he  tasted  the  forbidden  tree, 
and  dio\e  hi.n  to  seek  refuge  "from  the  presence  of  ihe 
Lurd  God  amidst  tlie  trees  of  the  garden"  The  ter- 
rors of  tlie  law  raged  in  Cain's  guilty  breast,  long  be- 
fore there  was  any  record  written  on  brass  or  stone. 
A. id  the  promises  of  pardon  and  sahation  are  coeval 
■with  the  conviction  of  the  first  otTender,  and  the  de- 
nnnciaiion  of  his  punishment.  The  tongue  whi(  h 
pn  nounced  on  man  the  doom  of  death,  proclaims  the 
glad  tidings  of  lite  and  recover}', 

I  know  that  the  law  is  of  God,  for  I  have  that  with- 
in me  which  acknowledges  and  approves  its  rectitude 
and  excellency;  and  even  when  it  condemns  me,  I 
am  con>trained  to  call  it  **  holy,  just  and  good."  I 
know  ti  at  the  gospel  is  of  God,  for  I  feel  that  within 
me  which  welcomes  its  approach,  discerns  its  suitable- 
ness, rejoices  in  its  fullness,  rests  upon  its  truth.  It  is 
ot  God,  for  it  descends  to  the  level  of  my  guilt  and 
misery,  correspond-^  with  my  hopes,  suits  my  neces- 
sities. 

Our  blessed  Lord  took  an  early  opportunity  of  ex- 
plaining himself  on  this  subject.  An  aJDsurd  idea  pre- 
vailed, that  the  kingdom  of  the  Messiah  was  to  be  a 
total  subversion  of  the  Mosaic  dispensation.  An  absurd- 
it)  into  which  some  christians  have  inadvertently  giv- 
en, for  want  of  making  a  plain  and  necessary  distinc- 
tion, between  those  particulars  of  the  law  which  are  in 
their  own  nature  eternal  and  unchangeable,  like  the 
nature  of  that  God  who  is  its  author  ;  and  those,  which 
being  typical  and  prophetical,  ceased  of  course  when 
the  predicted  event  arrived,  and  the  type,  having  tul- 
filed  its  design,  w;  s  lost  in  the  thing  typitied ;  and 
those,  which  being  temporary  and  transitory,  ceased 


LECT.  XVIII.  HISTORY    Ol-    MOSES.  'i'ki 

with  the  occasion  of  them.  ()l'lht>  Tn.^t  sort  aieti^e 
precepts  of  ti»e  decalogue,  or  the  .en  ctKiiuKUulinenls  ; 
which  under  every  const  it  ulK>n  that  elicciS  such  a  he- 
inj<  as  man,  must  he  imm.iiahle  and  <n<T!astujg.  Of 
them  it  is  that  Clirist  saitl,  "  Think  not  that  1  a;n  come 
to  destroy  the  hiw  or  the  prophets  :  I  am  not  come 
to  destroy  but  to  fuUil.  For  venJy  i  say  unto  you, 
Tdl  heaven  and  earth  pass,  onej()i  or  oire  title  shall  in 
no  wise  j)ass  from  ttie  law,  til!  ail  he  fullilled,"  Alatt. 
V.  17,  1«.  Of  the  second  class  art-  the  laws  of  the 
daily  sacrifice,  llje  great  annual  leasts,  the  ievitical 
priestliood,  and  the  like.  Tlity  pointed  out  Christ  the 
Lord,  tliey  ltd  liim,  they  were  lost  in  him.  And  in 
the  third  rank  we  place  the  law  of  circumcision,  the 
political  economy  of  the  Jewish  nation,  all  that  relat- 
ed to  the  possession  of  Canaan,  and  which  ceasetl  of 
course  with  the  dissolution  of  tliCU"  government,  and 
thelossof  their  national  importance.  Tliese  observa- 
tioris  being  attended  to  and  kept  in  mind,  will  prevent 
the  confusion  arising  from  the  ambiguous  acceptation 
of  the  word"  law,"  as  expressing  the  Old  Testament 
dispensation. 

The  law,  then,  and  the  gospel,  the  tuo  tables  of 
stone  delivered  to  Moses,  and  the  "grace  and  truth 
which  came  by  Jesus  Clirist,"  coincide,  secondly,  in 
this,  that  they' both  point  out  with  equal  clearness  and 
force  the  necessity  of  a  Saviour.  Every  word  pronoun- 
ced by  the  voice  of  God  from  Sinai,  is  in  truth  a  sen- 
tence of  condemnation.  Whilf  it  enjoins  future  obe- 
dience. It  fixes  past  guilt.  While  it  says,  **  Thou  shalt 
not  make  unto  tliee  any  graven  image,  or  the  likeness 
of  any  thing  that  is  in  heaven  above,  or  in  the  eailh 
beneath,"  it  accuses  of  idolatry.  While  it  recom- 
mends tlie  observance  of  the  sabbath,  it  charges  home 
the  violation  of  it;  and  so  of  the  re^t  of  ihe  prece[)ts 
of  the  decalogue. 

The  law,  therefore,  carried  the  gospel  in  its  bosom 
as  the  new-changed  moon  exhibits  a  great  body  of  ob- 


2i5  HISTORY  OF  M03ES,  LECT,  XVIII. 

rrurltv,  embraced  by  a  small  semicircle  of  light ;  but 
which  is  to  be  in  ad i? ted  by  degrees,  till  the  whole  be- 
corr.es  one  great  globe  of"  iiglit  and  glory  ;  and  M<;ses 
};ertornis  the  part  of  "  a  J^chool-master  to  bring  us  to 
Christ." 

To  hear  of  a  constitution  by  which  I  might  have 
lived,  after  nsy  life  is  ibrfeited,  is  only  to  embitter  my 
mi.seiy.  It  is  like  hearing  of  a  cordial  after  a  man  has 
swallowed  poison.  Now,  it  could  never  be  the  design 
of  the  gracious  Law-giver  to  insult  human  misery,  by 
holding  out  a  system  which  could  avail  the  guilty  r.oih- 
ing.  While,  then,  the  divine  justice  lays  down  the 
law  in  all  its  strictness,  purity  and  extent,  saying,*'  I 
am  the  Lord  who  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty  ;'* 
*'  Cursed  is  every  one  who  continueth  not  in  all  things 
\vhich  are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law  to  do  them,"^ 
Gal.  iii.  10. ..the  goodness  which  condescends  to  give 
a  law  at  all,  the  wisdom  which  explains  it,  the  patience 
that  forbears  to  punish  its  transgression,  all  plainly  and 
tiistinctly  proclaim  the  necessity  and  the  existence  of 
an  atonement,  and  lead  to  "  the  bringing  in  of  a 
better  liope." 

Thirdly,  The  spirit  of  both  dispensations  is  a  spirit 
of  love.  God  enforces  upon  Israel  obedience  to  the 
law  trom  Sinai,  by  the  consideration  of  his  being  the 
Lord,  which  '*  brought  him  out  of  the  land  ot  Egypt, 
out  of  the  house  of  bondage  :"  "  who  has  borne  them 
on  eagle's  wings,  and  brought  them  to  himself."  And 
'*  love"  on  the  part  of"  man  "  is  the  fullilling  of  the 
law."  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  vvitli  all  thy 
heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  v\ith  all  thy  mind. 
Ibis  is  the  fnvt  and  great  commandment.  And  the 
second  is  like  unto  it.  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as 
thvself  On  these  two  commandments  hang  all  the 
law  and  the  prophets,"  Malt.  xxii.  &c.  1  lie  go>pcl, 
in  like  manner»  has  its  source  in  love,  the  love  ot  God  , 
and  Its  great  aim  and  end  is  to  produce  love  to  God. 
"  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  be- 


LECT.  XVIII,  IIISTORY  OF  MOSES.  ilij 

gotten  S>n,  that  whosoever  helievelh  in  him  shoiiM 
not  perish  but  have  everlasting  litr,"  John  iii.  ]('. 
**  And  we  lo\e  him  because  he  (irsl  loved  us  "  "  The 
love  of  Ciirist  constiaineth  us,  because  we  thus  judgc^ 
that  if  one  died  for  all,  then  were  ail  deal  :  and  tija!: 
Ije  died  foi-  all,  that  they  wliicli  live  should  not  henCv,'- 
ibrtlj  live  unto  themselves,  but  unto  liim  which  (bed 
for  them  and  rose  again,"  2  Cor.  v.  14,  15.  And, 
"  by  this  shall  all  men  know  that  ye  are  my  di.sciples, 
if  ye  have  love  one  to  another,"  .J»-hn  xiii.  35.  "  H<.' 
that  says  he  loves  God,  and  haleth  his  brother,  is  a 
liar.  For  he  that  loveth  not  his  brother  whom  he  iialii 
seen,  ho.v  can  he  love  G(.?d  whom  he  hath  not  seen  c" 
1  John  iv.  20.  And,  when  both  shall  have  produced 
their  full  eflect,  "  perfect  love  shall  cast  out  icar,"  the 
voice  of  God  shall  be  unaccompanied  with  thunder  and 
lightning,  cloud  and  tempest.  The  storm  is  in  the 
mmd  of  the  guilty  creature.  The  wrath  of  fire  is  not 
in  God,  but  in  fallen  man  ;  in  "  the  carnal  mind,  which 
is  enmity  against  God  ;  for  it  is  not  subject  to  ;he 
law  of  God,  neither  indeed  can  be,"  Rom.  viii. 
35.  When  that  is  extinguished,  aJI  is  at  peace.  'J  ne 
aim  and  labor  of  the  gospel  is  not  to  reconcile  God  to 
man  ;  but  to  reconcile  men  to  God:  for  "  God  is  love ; 
and  lie  that  duelleth  in  love,  duelleth  m  God,  i-id 
God  in  him,"   2  John  iv.  IG. 

Fourthly,  Both  the  legal  and  evangelical  dispensa- 
tions equally  discover  to  us  om-  distance  irom  God. 
The  one,  by  enumerating  and  declaring  our  offences  j 
the  other,  by  enumerating  and  declaring  the  tender 
mercies  of  our  God.  Ti.e  law  trea;s  us^as  alienated 
friends,  whom  it  is  needful  to  convince,  to  reprove  and 
humble.  The  gospel  considers  us  as  friends  restored, 
no  "  longer  strangers  and  foreigners,  but  fellow  citi- 
zens with  the  saints,  andof  the  household  of  God  :" 
"once  darkness,  but  now  light  in  the  Lord:  once, 
alar  off,  but  made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ."  The 
Jaw  shews  us  how  far  we  have  deviated  from  the  path 


248  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.   XVIII, 

of  duty  and  happiness  ;  the  gospel  conducts  us  back 
through  our  wanderings,  unravels  the  intricacies  and 
error?,  of  our  dark  steps,  and  replaces  us  in  our  father's 
house.  Mdses  informs  us  that  we  are  wrong,  '*  like 
sheep  gf>ing  astray;"  Jesus  is  *'  the  way,  the  truth, 
and  the  life,"  and  takes  us  under  the  care  of  "  tlie 
shepdierd  and  bisiiop  of  souls."  Moses  points  out  the 
dreadful  deptii  uito  which  we  have  fallen,  the  dreadiul 
distance  trom  heaven  to  hell;  Christ  re\ealsthe  glori- 
ous iieight  to  which  we  are  raised,  the  glorious  distauce 
from  hell  lo  heaven.  Aioses  tells  me  what  1  ought  to 
be  and  to  do  ;  Christ  makrs  me  such  as  he  v\oald  Ijave 
me  to  be.  "  And  you  hath  lie  quickened  who  vvt  re 
dt  ad  in  trespasses  and  sms,  wherein  in  time  past  ye 
walked,  according  to  the  course  of  this  world,  accord- 
ing to  tliC  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,  tlie  spirit 
that  now  worketh  in  the  children  of  disobedience  : 
among  whom  also  we  all  had  our  conversation  in 
times  past,  in  the  lusts  of  our  ilesh,  fultilling  the  de- 
sires of  the  flesh  and  of  the  mind  ;  and  wore  by  nature 
the  children  of  wrath,  even  as  others.  But  God,  who 
is  rich  in  mercy,  tor  his  great  love  wherewith  he  loved 
us,  even  when  we  were  dead  in  sins,  hath  quickt-ned 
us  together  with  Christ;  (by  grace  ye  are  saverl)  and 
hath  raised  us  up  together,  and  made  us  sit  together  in 
heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus,"   Eph.  ii.    1,  &c. 

But  tlie  law  was  delivered  to  the  world  in  a  very 
ditierent  manner  from  the  publication  of  the  gospel; 
iu  fire  that  burned,  in  tempest  that  roared,  in  a  cloud 
that  darkened,  in  words  that  threatened.  It  awed 
men  into  distance  ;  it  inspired  terror.  But  the  gos- 
pel comes  in  ligiit  that  consumes  not,  in  glory  that 
dazzles  not,  in  lantjuaiTe  that  threatens  not.  The  law 
says,  '*  Take  heed  to  yourselves,  thatyegonot  up  in- 
to the  mount,  or  touch  the  border  of  it :  whosoever 
touchetl)  tlie  mount  sliall  surely  be  put  to  death. 
There  shall  not  an  hand  touch  it,  but  he  shall  surely  be 
stoned,  or  shot  through  :  w  helher  it  be  beast  or  man, it 


OCT.  XVIII.  HISTORY  OF  M0SE8.  240 

shall  not  live;  when  the  trumpet  soiindeth  long,  they 
.sliall  come  up  to  the  mount.  And  the  Lord  said  unto 
Closes,  Go  down,  charge  the  people,  lest  they  break 
tlnougli  unto  the  Lurd  to  gaze,  and  many  W  them 
perisli,"  Exod.  xix.  12,  &c.  'I  iie  gospel  says,  "  Look 
unto  me,  and  he  ye  savtd,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth." 
C>)ine  uuto  nie,  all  ye  thui  labor  and  are  heavy  laden, 
and  1  will  give  you  rest,"  Matt.  xi.  28.  *' He  that 
cometh  to  me,  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out,"  John  vi. 
u/.  But  to  the  impenitent  and  unbelieving,  tne  gos- 
pel speaks  the  same  tenor  which  the  law  did  horn 
Siuai ;  nay,  it  wears  a  sldl  more  trow  ning  aspect. 
*'  Indignation  and  wrath,  tril)ulation  and  anguish  upon 
evtr-ry  soul  of  man  that  doeih  evil,  ot"  the  Jew  lirst, 
and  also  of  tjie  Gentile,"  Rom.  ii.  8,  9.  "  How  shall 
we  escape  if  we  neglect  so  great  salvation  ;  which  at  the 
lirst  began  to  b(.'  spoken  by  the  Lord,  and  was  confirin- 
"jd  unto  us  by  them  ihat  lieard  him,"  Heb.  ii.  3.  He 
that  despised  Moses's  law  died  without  mercy,  under 
two  or  three  witnesses  :  of  how  jnuch  Sorer  j)unis()- 
ment,  suj)pose  ye,  shall  he  be  thought  worthy, who  hath 
trodden  under  foot  the  S  m  of  God,  and  hath  counted 
the  blood  of  the  covenant  vvherewitij.he  was  sanctified, 
an  unhi'ly  thing,  and  liatli  done  des{)ite  to  the  Spirit 
of  grace,"  x.  '28,  '29  And  on  the  other  haiul,  to 
them  that  believe,  the  law  speaks  in  the  mildest, 
g  Mitlest  language  of  the  gospel ;  fur  "  there  is  there- 
tore  now  no  condemnation  to  them  wnich  are  in 
Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after 
the  Spirit,"  Rom.  vsii.  1.  "  And  the  J^ord  passed  by 
belbre  him,  and  proclaimed.  The  Lord,  the  Lord  God, 
merciful  and  gracious,  long-sutTeriug,  and  abundant  in 
goodness  and  truth,  keeping  mercy  ibr  thousands,  for- 
giving iniqmty  and  transgression  and  sin,"  Exodua 
xxxiv.  0,  7-  **  And  shewing  mercy  uuto  thousands 
oi  them  that  love  me,  and  keep  my  coumiandrnents," 
XX.  6.  I  know  not  whetlier  tlie  whole  bible  contains 
an  expvesj-ion  of  goodness  more  j^inijulur  and  i.triking 

VOL.  II.  il    I 


250  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  XVllT, 

than  these  words  which  issued  from  the  mountain  that 
burned  with  ine.  Our  fears  are  alarmed  at  the  men- 
tion of  the  great  and  dreadful  name..."  The  Lord 
God,  a  Jealous  God,  visitmg  the  iniquity  of  the  fa- 
thers upon  the  children."  But  justice  has  its  limits. 
It  may  be  stretched  out  to  the  third  or  fourth  gene- 
r.Htion  of  offenders.  Yet  the  "  Lord  will  not  strive 
continually,  neither  will  he  keep  his  anger  forever." 
But  grace  knows  no  bounds.  When  mercy  is  to  be 
extended,  it  looks  forward  and  forward,  from  a  third 
and  a  fourth,  to  thousands  of  generations  of  them  that 
love  God.  In  what  promise  of  the  New  Testament 
is  tlie  love  of  God  preached  more  sweetly  than  in  this 
precept  of  the  Old  ? 

Bolii  dispensations  then  have  their  mildness,  and 
both  tlieir  terror.  Tiieir  mildness  from  the  grace  of 
the  Creator;  their  terror  from  the  guilt  ol' the  crea* 
tme.  And  if  the  proclamaiion  of  the  law  were  thus 
dreadful  ;  if  ihe  alarm  of  judgment  to  come  shake  the 
foundalion  of  the  evtrlasfing  hills;  if  Sinai  tremble, 
aud  tlie  rucks  melt  before  the  Lord,  conung  as  a  Pro- 
tector aiid  a  Friend,  what  must  the  sessions  be,  the 
gieat  day  of  tloom,  the  awful  hour  of  execution  when 
tliC  Judge  shall  come  "  in  flaming  fire,  taking  venge- 
ance on  them  that  know  not  God,  and  that  obey  not 
the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  2  Thess.  i.  8. 
*'  AVhen  the  heavens  beuig  on  fire  shall  be  dissolved, 
and  the  elements  shall  melt  with  fervent  heat,"  2  Pet. 
iii.  Li.  "  Consider  this,  ye  that  foiget  God,  lest  he 
tear  you  in  pieces,  and  there  be  none  to  deliver," 
Psal.  1.  22. 

'*  Now  of  the  tnings  which  ue  have  spoken,  this  is 
the  sum  :  We  have  such  an  iiigh  Priest,  who  is  set  on 
the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  the  majesty  in  the 
heavens;  a  minister  of  the- sanduary  and  of  the  true 
tabernacle,  vvljich  Ihe  Lord  luith  piiched  and  not  man. 
For  every  high  pnetrt  i.s  ordamed  to  offer  gifts  and  sac- 
rifices :  wheaiure  il  is  of  iioccssity  that  this  Man  have. 


JJECT.  XVIII.  HISTORY  or  MOSES.  Ml 

somewhat  to  otTer.  But  ih>v\  l.aili  Iv^  obtainrri  a  more 
excellent  mii)isiry  :  by  how  much  also  ht-  is  tlu'  M-  di* 
aior  of  a  better  covenant,  \\hi»h  was  establishcfl  upoa 
belter  pnxnises.  For  this  is  the  covenant  that  I  will 
make  with  the  house  of  Israel  after  those  days  sailh  the 
Loid;  I  will  put  my  laws  in  their  minds,  and  writa 
tlitmi  in  their  hearts ;  I  will  be  to  them  a  God,  and 
they  shall  be  to  me  a  people.  For  I  will  be  merciful 
to  their  unrighteousness,  and  their  sins  and  their  iui- 
qnitie.s  I  will  remember  no  more.  In  that  he  saith, 
A  uew  covenant,  he  hath  made  the  first  old.  Now 
tliat  which  (h  cayeth  and  waxeth  old  is  ready  to  van- 
ish away,"  Heb.  viii.  l,&:c.  And  all  '*  this  is  of  God, 
who  hath  made  us  able  ministers  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, not  of  the  letter,  but  of  the  Spirit;  for  the  let- 
ter killer  h,  but  the  Spirit  giveth  life.  But  if  the  minis- 
tration ol  death,  written  and  engraven  in  stones,  was 
glor  ous,  so  that  the  chihlren  of  Israel  could  not  stead- 
fastly behold  the  face  of  Moses  for  the  glory  of  his  coun- 
tenance, which  glory  was  to  be  done  away  ;  how  shall 
not  the  ministration  of  the  Spirit  be  rather  glorious  ? 
For  if  the  ministration  of  condemnation  be  glory,  much 
more  doth  the  ministration  of  righteousness  exceed  in 
glory.  For  even  that  which  was  made  glorious  had 
no  glory  in  this  respect,  by  reason  of  the  glory  that 
excelleth.  For  if  that  which  is  done  avvay  was  glori- 
ous, much  more  that  which  remaineth  is  glorious," 
2  Cor.  iii.  6.  &c. 

We  are   assembled   this  night,    my  brethren,  the 

'  subjects  of  the  law  ;  the  students  of  the  gospel ;  tl^e 
expectants  of  Christ's  second  appearance.  "  See  then 
that  ye  resist  not  him  that  speaketh  from  heaven." 
Ye  are  happily  set  free  from  the  law  of  ceremonies  ; 
happily  subjected  to  the  law  of  morality;  and  "  not 
without  law  unto  Christ."  "  Stand  fast  therefore  in 
that  liberty  wherewith  Christ  hath  made  you  tree." 
Enjoy  and  improve  what  you  have;  aftect   not  more 

.^  than  a  wise  Providence  permits.      Look  forward   ta 


252  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    XVIII. 

that  day  when  you  shall  join  an  innumerable  company 
of  angels,  yourselves  like  the  angels  ol  God  in  heaven  ; 
when  you  shall  associate  with  the  spirits  of  just  men 
made  perfect,  yourselves  perfect  as  they  are ;  when 
you  shall  add  your  voices  to  the  celestial  chon*,  in  sing- 
ing *'  the  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb ;"  when  you 
shall  see  the  face  of  God  without  dying,  and  hear  his 
voice  without  quaking  for  fear.  "  Now  unto  Him  that 
loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood, 
and  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto  God  and  his 
Father;  to  him  be  glory  and  dominion  forever  and 
ever.     Amen." 


END  OF  THE  FIRST  COURSE  OF  LECTURES. 


g^acreti  15iograp|)j>. 


BV  HENRY  HUNTER,  D.D. 
SECOND  COURSE  OF  LECTURES. 


'^^} 


)acrei3  3Siosrapf)j?. 


LECTURE  L 


ySe  not  fww  therefore  ashamed  of  the  testimony  of  our 
Lord,  nor  of  me  Iiis  prisoner :  l)ut  l)e  thou  partaker 
v/  the  afflictions  of  the  gospel,  according  to  he  pozver 
of  God ;  who  hath  saved  ns,  and  called  ns  icith  an 
holy  calling,  ?iot  according  to  our  works,  l)ut  acrord- 
ing  to  his  oivn  purpose  and  grace,  zvhich  was  given 
ns  in  Christ  Jesus  bejore  the  zvorld  began  ;  but  is  now 
wade  manifest  by  the  al'pearing  of  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  -who  hath  abolished  death,  and  hath  brought 
iijc  and  immortality  to  light  through  tfie  gospel.... 
2  TIMOTHY  i.  8,  9,  10. 

T^  VERY  dispensalion  of  the  divine  Providence 
-'-^  seems  to  be  the  basis  and  the  preparation  of  a  fart  her 
x3  is  pi  ay  of  wisdom  and  goodness.  The  last  discovered 
purpose  of  the  Eternal  Mind,  is  the  continuation,  the 
extension  and  the  improvement  of  that  which  imme- 
diately preceded  it  ;  and  the  glory  hitherto  displayed 
in  the  wa\s  and  works  of  God,  however  excellent,  is 
hastening  to  lose  itself  in  "  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory"  yet  to  be  revealed.  Periods 
of  immeasurable,  incomprehensible  duration  had  flow- 
ed before  this  fair  and  majestic  frame  of  nature  was 
called  into  existence.  For  we  read  of  a  purpose  of 
grace  formed  and  given  "  before  the  world  began," 
and  of"  a  kingdom  prepared  from  the  foundation  of  the 


^56  INTRODUCTORY   LECTURE,  LSCT.    I, 

world  ;"  of  an  election  made,  and  of"  eternal  life  pro- 
mised, of  God  who  cannot  lie,  be/o?r  the  foundation  of 
the  world."  Who  can  tell  what  systems  have  preced- 
ed ttjat  which  now  exists?  We  know  from  scripture 
that  one  more  glorious  is  to  succeed  it.  "  Accordino- 
to  his  promise,  we  look  for  new  heavens  and  a  new 
earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteousness,"  2  Peter  iii.  13. 
Aud  who  can  tell  what  future  systems  may  arise  in 
endless  piogression  ?  As  well  might  the  lluttering  in- 
sect, whicli  was  born  in  the  morning,  and  perishes  at 
night,  presume  to  dive  into  the  ages  beyond  the  floods 
or  with  bold  adventurous  wing  attempt  to  soar  into  the 
heaven  of  heavens,  and  decTare  the  wonders  of  the 
world  of  spirits. 

But  though  system  may  succeed  system,  though  dis- 
pensations change,  one  thing  is  immutable,  "  the  gra- 
cious pur})08eof  Him  who  worketh  all  things  after  the 
coimsel  of  his  own  will."  One  great  object  was  kept 
in  view  beibre  the  world  began,  is  still  kept  in  view 
through  the  whole  extent  ol  its  duration,  and  is  to 
be  pursued  through  the  endless  ages  of  eternitv.  Do 
you  need,  christian,  to  be  told  what  it  is  ?  The  salva- 
tion of  the  world  by  Christ  Jesus.  It  is  a  little  thing 
lo  say,  that  Abraham  saw  his  day  afar  off:  that  of  him 
Moses  wrote,  Isaiah  prophecied,  David  sung  and  Paul 
prearlied.  "  These  tilings  tne  angels  desire  to  look 
into."  On  this  exalted  theme  the  everlasting  coun- 
sels of  peace  revolved  ;  to  mature  them,  the  powers  of 
iieaven  atid  earth  were  shaken  ;  and  to  brnig  them 
to  their  consummation,  a  new  criation  stiall  ex* 
pand  infinite  space,  and  a  succession  of  ages  that  are 
never,  never  to  expire.  Placed  at  whatever  point  in 
this  immense  sphere,  our  eyes  are  still  attracted  to 
the  glorious  Centre^  from  which  all  liglu  and  lifie  and 
joy  issue,  and  in  whose  light  every  mlerior  orb  re- 
volves and  shines. 

I'he  epistle  of  the  great  apostle  of  the  Gentiles  from 
which  1  have  taken  the  subject  of  this  Discourse,  is 


tECT.  I.  INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.        ftS^ 

addressed  to  Timothy,  whom  he  styles  his  "  dearly  be- 
loved son  in  the  gospel,"  and  wlio  had  been  ordained 
fir?*t  bishop  of  the  chnrch  of  the  Ephesians.  Paul 
himself  was  at  that  time  a  prisoner  at  Rome,  and 
totally  uncertain  respecting  the  issue  of  a  cause  which 
alfected  his  life,  betore-  the  imperial  court.  What 
mercy,  what  justice  was  to  be  expected  from  such  a 
prince  as  Nero. ..the  monster  who  could  fne  his  coun- 
try, shed  the  blood  of  his  virtuous  preceptor,  and  de- 
stroy his  own  mother  ?  But  we  behold  in  the  prisoner 
a  spirit  much  exalted  above  the  fear  of  a  tyrant,  a 
miud  prepared  fo.  the  worst  that  co.uld  befal  hmi,  and 
expressing  anxiety,  not  abont  personal  sallJy,  but 
about  the  success  of  the  gospel,  and  the  steadlastness 
of  a  beloved  disciple.  He  solemnly  charges  that  disci- 
ple not  to  .suffer  himself  to  be  one  moment  shaken  in 
the  faith,  by  the  persecution  to  whicti  the  cause  of 
Christ  had  expo>ed  himself,  oi  the  ills  which  he  might 
still  be  called  to  endure  for  the  testimony  of  Jesus: 
and,  to  mforce  his  charge,  he  sugg'^sts  a  view  of  the 
gospel  which  eclipses  all  created  glory,  "  stills  the  ene- 
my and  the  avenger,"  plucks  from  death  his  sting,  and 
robs  the  grave  of  its  boasted  victory.  He  represents 
Timothy  and  liiniyelf  as  engaged  in  a  cause,  which 
the  great  God  himself,  before  all  worlds,  regarded  as 
of  superior  importance,  and  made  peculiarly  his  own  ; 
which  "at  sundry  times  and  in  divers  manners;  he 
disclosed,  and  which  at  length,  "by  the  appearing 
of  our  Saviour  Je^us  Christ,  he  made  manifest"  to  all ' 
men.  Paul  glories  in  the  idea  of  being  a  worker  toge- 
ther .vilh  God  in  this  generous  design  ;  in  his  appoint- 
luent  to  the  office  of  "  a  preacher,  and  an  aj^osile, 
and  a  teacher  of  the  Gentiles,"  in  the  great  mystery 
of  godliness;  m  displaying  and  dispensing  to  a  guilty, 
perishing  wor'd,  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ... 
who  had  *•  abolisned  death,  and  brought  lite  and  im- 
mortality to  light  through  the  gospeh" 

...In  tracing  the  history  of  the  patriarchs  who  lived 

VOL.  II.  2  K 


258         INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.  LECT.  r. 

both  before  and  since  the  floo(i,  from  Adam  to  Abra- 
ham, and  from  Abraham  to  Moses,  we  have  endea- 
vored to  point  out  tliis  unity  of  design,  this  steadiness 
of  co-operation,  tbi:5  progress  of  discovery.  By  what- 
ever name  the  typical  person  is  designed,  patriarch, 
prophet,  high-priest,  under  the  Old  Testament  dis- 
pensation :  whatever  be  the  designation  of  the  minis- 
tring  servant  under  the  New,  apostle,  evangelist,  pas- 
tor or  elder,  the  office  and  the  end  of  the  institution 
is  one  and  the  same. ..to  declare  the  Son  of  God  the 
Saviour  of  men,  "  for  the  perfecting  of  the  saints  for 
the  edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ,  till  all  come  in  the 
unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son 
of  God,  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the 
stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ."  Eph.  iv.  \3. 

Borne  down  the  current  of  di\  ine  revelation,  we 
have  arrived  with  Israel  at  the  mountain  that  burned 
with  fire,  and  at  awful  distance,  with  trembling  eyes, 
beheld  its  summit  involved  in  clouds,  clothed  in  ter- 
ror; and  with  wonder  and  joy  contemplated  the  cloud 
dispersing,  the  thunder  ceasing,  tlie  tenor  done  awaj', 
and  Mount  Sinia  trau^lbrmed  into  Mount  Zion.  What- 
evtr  farther  progress  we  make,  in  whatever  direction 
we  proceed,  we  shall  find  this  exceeding  high  moun- 
tain still  in  view  ;  and,  whether  under  the  conduct  of 
the  leader  and  commander  of  Israel,  or  of  the  Cham- 
pion of  Christianity,  we  are  equally  led  by  "one" 
and  the  same  "  Spirit"  in  '*  one  hope"  to  "  one  Lord, 
'  one  iaith,  one  God  and  Father  of  all,  who  is  above  all, 
and  tlirough  all,  and  in  all,"  Eph.  iv.  6,  6. 

We  shall  endeavor  to  connect  our  past  and  follow- 
ing Course  cf  Lectures,  by  the  view  here  presented  to 
us  by  the  apostle,  of  the  plan  of  Providence  in  the 
redemption  of  the  world  ;  and  the  execution  of  it,  "  by 
the  appearing  of  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ."  And  you 
will  be  pleased  to  observe, 

I.  it  is  God's  ozvn  puj'pose.  The  contrivance,  the 
discovery,  the  progress,    the  accomplishment,  all,  all  is 


LECT.  I.         INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.  j^^ 

from  heaven.  In  what  relates  to  this  world,  in  what 
contributes  to  the  Mistentation  and  comlort  of  a  tran- 
sient lile,  human  sagacity,  ingenuity  and  industry  may 
challenge  a  little  praise.  Men  soon  invented  and  im- 
proved the  necessary,  useful,  and  ornamental  arts. 
They  soon  learned  to  budd  cities,  to  work  in  brass  and 
iron,  to  **  handle  the  harp  and  organ."  JBut  their 
dfXterity,  address,  perseverance  and  success  in  the 
pursuit  of  perishable  interests,  form  an  humiliating 
contrast  with  their  aukwardness,  indolence,  inattention 
and  incapacity  in  their  higher,  ttieir  spiritual  and  tver- 
la>tnig  concerns.  Wise  m  tritles,  or  to  do  evil,  how 
to  do  good  they  find  not.  The  experiment  was  per- 
mitted to  be  fully  made.  It  was  proved  how  far  the 
powers  of  nature  could  go.  Egypt,  Assyria,  Greece, 
Rome,  improved  one  upon  another;  and  what  was 
the  result?  **  The  world  by  wisdom  knew  not  G.)d." 
They  became  vain  in  their  imaginations,  and  their 
foolish  heart  was  darkened.  Professing  themselves  to 
be  wise,  they  became  fools;  and  changed  the  glory  of 
the  uncorruptible  God  into  an  image  made  like  to  cor- 
ruptible man,  and  to  birds,  and  four-footed  beasts,  and 
creeping  things,"  Rom.  i.  i'2,  23. 

To  increase  our  wonder  and  mortification,  when 
God's  purpose  of  mercy  was  declared,  when  his  method 
of  salvation  was  revealed,  men  were  "  Slow  of  heart 
to  believe.-"  They  "resisted  the  Holy  Spirit ;"  Christ 
"  came  to  his  own  and  his  own  received  him  not." 
The  disciples  themselves  understood  not,  believed  not 
*'  what  the  prophets  had  spoken."  No  wonder  then 
that  tjae  doctrine  of  the  cross  was  "  to  the  Jews  a  stum- 
bling-block, and  to  the  Greeks  foolishness."  Here  then 
is  a  purpose^  which  not  only  is  not  of  man's  forming, 
but  which  man  uniformly  and  violently  opposed.  In 
other  cases,  we  behold  the  wisdom  of  God  blending 
itself  with  human  counsels,  directing,  subduing  them 
to  its  determination,  and  the  great  God  gra(,ioi:sly 
condescending  to  divide  his  glory  with   the  creature. 


£60        INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.  LECT.  I. 

But  if  there  be  a  design  more  peculiarly  his,  from 
vvliici)  he  claims  undivided  praise,  which  was  not,  which 
could  not  be  of  man,  nor  "  according  to  our  works," 
it  i^  this,  the  graciou*  design  of  *'  saving  them  that  be- 
lieve,"  by  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified. 

11.  This  leads  us  forward  to  observe,  that,  as  the 
work  of  redemption  is  Jehovah's  own  peculiar  pur- 
posCi  so  it  is  a  pur[)ose  o\  grace.  The  thoughts  of  "  the 
Faiiier  of  spirits"  an^  uniolded,  and  thej  are  "thoughts 
of  peace."  Transporting  view  !  Behold  the  greatest 
and  most  glo'ious  of  all  beings  employing  himself  in 
devising  the  nuans  of  doing  good,  of  communicating 
happine.s,  cf  leiieving  the  miserable;  and  forming  a 
scheme  of  benevolence  which  extends  from  eternity 
to  eternity,  and  comprehends  innumerable  myriads  of 
rational  beings  restored,  recovered  from  ignorance, 
from  guilt,  from  misery,  to  wisdom,  to  holiness,  to 
perfect  and  exalted  felicity.  Blessed  purpose  !  The 
formation  of  man,  the  creation  of  an  universe  are  only 
parts  of  it.  Man  was  formed  that  he  might  be  re- 
deemed :  was  sent  into  this  world  to  be  prepared  for 
"he.venly  places  in  Christ  Jesus,"  The  firmament 
was  expanded,  adornetl,  lighted  up,  to  witness  the 
display  oi  "  the  exceedmg  riches  of  the  grace  ©rtjlod, 
in  h?s  kindness  towards  us  through  Christ  Jesus ;"  and 
every  successive  opening  of  the  plan  of  Providence 
is  only  a  new  discovery,  a  more  endearing  expression 
of  the  love  of  Christ  *'  which  passeth  knovi^ledge,"  of 
*'  the  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding." 
Think,  O  guilty  man,  think,  O  my  soul,  what  apwr- 
pose  of  justice,  tliink  what  a  purpose  of  ivrath  would 
have  been,  had  "  God  sent  his  Son  into  the  world  to 
coudemn  the  world  I". ..The  spirit  fails  at  the  dreadful 
thought.  Behold  an  insulted  God  descending  to  con- 
found the  pride  at.d  presumption  of  the  builders  of 
Babel ;  and  mark  their  speedy  dispersion.  Behold  a 
rightoous  God  descended  on  a  purpose  of  fiery  indig- 
nation against  polluted  Sodom  ;  and  consider,  in  trem- 


LECT.  li  INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.  ^61 

bling  silence,  the  smoke  of  her  torment  ascending  up 
to  heaven.  Bihold  a  whole  world  of  ungodly  men 
overwhelmed  with  the  waters  of  a  deluge  ;  and  learn 
how  dreadful,  how  inconveivably  dreadful  a  deliberate 
purpose  of  vengeance  is.  And,  when  you  have  ponder- 
ed It  well,  reflect  with  wonder,  gratitude  and  delight, 
that  '' God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  onl\^ 
begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should 
not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  iile  ;"  John  iii.  IG.  that 
Christ  came  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost. 
Again, 

III.  This  purpose  of  God,  this  purpose  of  grace  was 
formed,  before  the  world  began,  iiuman  puipc/ses  ar? 
feeble,  fhictuating,  unenlightened ;  obstructed  by  un- 
foreseen events,  tliey  are  constrained  to  change  their 
direction,  and  to  assume  a  new  form.  The  imperfect 
■work  which  through  many  difficulties  is  at  length  exe- 
cuted, bears  no  manner  of  resemblance  to  the  origi- 
nal desig.).  Man  performs  what  he  may,  because  he 
cannot  effect  what  he  would.  He  is  governed  by  cir- 
cumstances over  which  he  has  no  power.  But  the  dis- 
tinctions of  past  and  future  vanish  away  from  before 
the  eye  of  God.  There  can  be  no  difficulty  in  the  way 
of  almighty  power,  nothing  concealed  from  the  view 
of  omniscience.  The  duration  of  a  world  shrinks  into 
a  sinsrle  moment  before  Him  who  is  '*  from  everlastino- 
to  everlasting."  Contingency  and  chance  can  have  no 
effect  on  the  counsels  of  Him  '*  who  seeth  the  end  from 
the  beginning,"  and  saith,  "3/j/ counsel  shall  stand, 
and  I  will  fulfil  all  my  pleasure." 

Christianity  as  old  as  the  creation  !  It  boasts  a  much 
more  ancient  date.  The  creation  is  of  yesterday,  the 
world  is  not  yet  six  thousand  years  old  ;  but  Christian- 
ity is  of  the  essen(;e  of  God  himself.  It  bears  date  "  of 
old,  even  from  everlasting."  "  This  pure  river  of  wa- 
ter of  life"  proceeds  out  of  the  throne  of  God,  who 
dwells  in  inaccessible  light.  Imagination  wearies, 
itself^  thought  is   lost,  in  tracing  it  up  to  its  source. 


252  INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.        LECT.  I. 

Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  -^oul,  who  from  eternity,  in  the 
greatness  of  his  niight,  in  the  plentitude  of  his  goodness, 
m  tlieincompreliensibility  of  his  wisdom,  condescended 
lo  fix  the  bounds  of  thy  habitation, to  arrange  the  events 
of  tiiy  mortal  existence,  to  prepare  thy  place  in  the 
heavenly  mansions  ;  who  "  before  the  world  began" 
surveyed  with  complacency  and  delight  his  own  b^ne- 
voletit  design,  his  own  glorious  work,  the  universe 
which  he  v\as  about  to  speak  into  being,  the  bit  of  clay 
be  was  to  fashion  into  a  man,  the  immortal  spirit  which 
ins  breath  was  to  inspire,  the  needy  perishing  wretch 
whoin  his  mercy  was  to  redeem.     But, 

J  V.  The  biessed  Author  of  this  gracious,  everlasting^ 
purj>ose,  has  revealed  and  bestowed  it  in  his  own  way. 
He  'Miath  saved  us,"  "  not  according  to  our  works," 
nor  in  the  way  of  our  own  wisdom. ..it  is  given  us  in 
Christ  Jesus.  From  the  formation  of  the  mtrciful 
plan  of  salvation  to  its  consummation  in  glory,  the 
necessity  of  a  Mediator  is  never  for  a  single  moment 
left  out  of  view.  His  name,  like  a  sweet  perfume,  is 
wafted  on  the  wings  of  every  wind.  Survey  the  world 
of  nature  through  all  its  vast  extent,  and  in  its  minut- 
est particle,  and  we  behold  the  omnific  *'  Word  by 
whom  all  things  were  made,  and  without  whom  noth- 
ing was  made  that  is  made.'*  He  also  "  upholdeth  all 
by  the  word  of  his  power;"  "all  power  is  given  unto 
him  in  heaven  and  in  earth."  Open  the  history  of 
redemption  at  whatever  page,  and  it  still  unfolds  the 
mercy  of  God  through  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.  Con- 
ducted of  the  Spirit  back  to  the  eternal  days  ofuncre- 
aled  light,  admitted  to  the  deliberations  of  the  coun- 
cils of  peace,  we  hear  the  Son  of  God  proclaim,  **  I 
am  Alpha,"  the  beginnmg."  Carried  forward  in  joy- 
ful ho|)e  to  the  day  when  he  shall  "  make  all  things 
new,"  the  same  voice  btill  proclaims,  "  I  am  Omega," 
*'  the  enduig,"  *'  who  was  and  is,  and  is  to  come." 
Search  the  scriptures;  consult  the  prophets  ;  to  him 
thty   "all   give    witness."     Meditate  the    promises; 


I,ECT.    I.  INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.  ti63 

**  all  the  promises  of  God  in  him  are  yea,  and  in  him 
amen,  unto  the  glory  ol  Cr.»r|."  Examine  the  record; 
**  this  is  the  itcord,  llml  God  liath  gi\tn  lo  us  eternal 
life;  and  this  lile  is  m  his  Son.  He  that  lialli  the  Son 
haih  iile  :  and  he  thai  hulh  not  the  Son  ot  Go. I  hath 
not  life,"  John  v,  II,  12.  Consider  the  ministra- 
tion of  angels;  the  covenant  ot  premise  "  was  or- 
dained by  angels  in  the  hand  of  a  Mediator.''  Hear- 
ken to  a  voice  fiom  the  most  exceileni  glory  :  "This 
is  my  beloved  Son,  in  w  horn  I  am  well  please  d,  ht  iir 
him."  Ali  is  lii^hl  and  glor}  ;  but  not  a  single  ray  of 
light  is  transmitted  through  any  meduiin  .but  this.  All 
is  giace....free,  sovereign  grace  ;  but  there  is  not  cne 
infimation  given,  not  one  act  of  lavor  conferred,  but 
through  the  **  one  Mediator  betweei:  God  and  man,  the 
Man  Christ  Jesus."  'lo  hnn  let  every  knee  bow,  \o 
him  every  toninie  confess,  of  things  in  earth,  and  things 
in  heav:^n.  What  saith  the  scripture  r  "  He  putleth 
no  trust  in  his  saints,  and  his  angels  he  chargeth  with 
folly."  Is  not  this  a  plain  declaration,  that  the  high- 
est and  holiest  of  created  beings  are  impeiliect  and 
dependent;  that  they  stand  in  need  of  a  Mediator  and 
Advocate  in  order  to  their  acceptance  with  a  holy 
God  ?  And  is  it  not  for  this  reason,  that,  *'  when  he 
bringeth  in  the  First- begotten  into  the  world,  he  saith. 
And  let  all  the  angels  of  God  worship  him  }'\..\t  being 
the  fundamental  law  of  God's  everlasling  kinodom  be- 
fore the  world  was,  and  after  it  shall  be  burnt  up  and 
pass  away,  with  all  that  it  contains,  under  patriarchs, 
prophets  and  apostles,  under  the  legal  and  under  the 
evangt  lical  dispensation,  under  the  dominion  of  grace 
and  m  glory,  on  earth  and  in  heaven,  that  there 
should  be  access  to,  hope  in,  and  acceptance  with  God, 
for  men  and  for  angels,  only  through  the  Son  of  his  Jove, 
the  eternal  Word  which  made  and  supports  all  things. 
V.  In  conformity  with  this  (^\ox\ov\s  purpose,  and  grace 
in  Christ  Jesus,  what  hath  been  executed.''  Every  thing 
worthy  of  a  design  so  grand,  every  thing  worthy  of  itv 


264         INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.  LECT.  I. 

great  "  Author,"  worthy  of  the  glorious  Finisher  of  our 
iaitli."  His  appearing  hath  made  it  maniftst.  The  clear- 
est-sighted ot  tlie  prophets,  Jike  the  bhud  man  only  half 
restored  to  vision,  saw  men  as  but  as  trees  walking,  but 
now,  under  the  gospel,  tl)e  dullest  and  most  despised 
among  believers  sees  every  thing  plainly  ;  he  sees,  the 
eternal  purpose  of  God  written  m  characters  which  he 
can  read  and  understand  ;  he  compares  the  model  with 
the  structure,  and  finds  tlie  tabernacle  erected  in  the 
plain,  the  perfect  counterpart  of  the  pattern  delivered 
in  the  mount :  He  finds  the  scriptures  fulfilled,  the  pre- 
dictions verified,  the  t\  pes  explained,  realized,  justified, 
all  things  finished  in  and  by  the  Lord  Christ. 

What  haih  been  executed  ?  He  hath  abolished  death, 
that  hated,  hideous  spectre,  through  tear  of  whom  the 
fallen  posterity  of  Adam  are  "  subject  to  bondage." 
He  hath  restrained  the  power,  put  an  end  to  the  domi- 
nion, annihilated  the  existence  of  the  king  of  terrors.'* 
Through  sin  death  gained  admission  into  the  world; 
iij  sin  his  empire  is  founded  ;  by  sm  he  is  armed  with 
a  mortal  sting.  By  the  great  propitiation  tor  sin  he  is 
banished  thence,  his  reign  is  terminated,  his  sting  is  pluck- 
ed out.  Ask  that  sickly,  pining  creature,  what  it 
would  be  to  have  the  disease  which  is  perceptibly  prey- 
ing upon  his  vitals  abolished  ?  Ask  that  dejected  pri- 
soner of  despair,  what  it  would  be  to  have  his  debt 
dis(;harged,  and  the  writ  of  his  confinement  abolished  ? 
Ask  the  wretch  condemned,  what  it  would  be  to  have 
the  latal  hand-writing  of  judgment  that  is  against  him 
abolished  ?  An  I  let  tlie  answers  you  would  receive  con- 
vey, as  well  as  tliey  can,  a  sense  of  the  obligation  under 
xvhich  we  lie,  to  Him  who  hath  done  away  the  deadly 
plague  which  wastes,  which  threatens,  which  destroys 
the  soul  ;  to  Him,  who  haih  paid  the  enormous  debt 
'*  to  the  uttermost  farthing,"  purchased  a  release,  set 
open  the  prison  doors;  to  Him  who  hath  cancelled  the 
auful  sentence  of  a  righteous  God,  "  nailing  it  to  his 
cross."     He   hath  abolished   deaths   with  all  the  woe 


LECT.  I.  INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.         265 

that  leads  to  it,  all  the  dreaded  woe  that  is  in  it,  all  the 
more  tremendous  woe  that  succeeds :  sickness  and 
pain,  anguish  and  old  age;  the  bitter  pang  that  rends 
asunder  the  body  and  the  spirit ;  the  hell  that  follows. 
And  by  what  wonderful  means  hath  all  this  been  ef- 
fected ?  "  through  death"  he  has  destroyed  "  him  that 
ha(i  the  power  of  death."  Into  his  own  snare  the  de- 
ceiver has  fallen  ;  by  his  own  weapons  the  enemy  ha» 
been  disarmed  ;  his  own  triumph  hath  proved  his  ruin. 
"  O  death,  where  is  thy  sting  ?  O  grave  where  is  thy 
victory  ?  The  sting  of  death  is  sin,  and  the  strength 
of  sin  is  the  law.  But  thanks  be  to  God  which  givetli 
us  the  victory,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  1  Cor. 
XV.  0.5,  56,  51. 

M^hat  hath  been  executed  ?  He  hath  brought  life 
and  inimortaliti)  to  light.  It  is  more  than  flattering 
hope  or  fond  desire  ;  it  is  more  tiian  the  speculation  of 
a  philosophic  mind,  or  the  presumptuousness  of  rea- 
soning pride ;  it  is  more  than  patriarchal  confidence, 
or  the  dawning  light  of  Mosaic  revelation.  It  is  de- 
sire warranted,  and  hope  supported  by  facts;  it  is  rea- 
son justilied  and  confirmed  by  demonstration  ;  it  is  the 
morning  light  of  promise,  advanced  to  the  perfect 
day  of  discovery  and  accomplishment.  **  He  that 
raised  up  Christ  from  the  dead,  shall  also  quicken  your 
mortal  bodies  by  his  Spirit  that  dvvelleth  in  you,"  Rom. 
viii.  11.  "  For  if  we  believe  that  Jesus  died,  and  rose 
again,  even  so  them  also  which  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God 
bring  wi.h  him,"  Thess.  iv.  14.  This  is  not  the  cold 
peradventure  of  a  sage,  saying,  *'  If  in  this  I  err,  I 
willingly  err  ;"  but  the  blessed  assurance  of  an  apostle, 
saying,  "  I  know  whom  I  have  believed,  and  I  am 
persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have 
committed  unto  him  against  that  day,"  2  Tim.  i.  VI. 
'*  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my 
departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I 
have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith.  Hence- 
forth there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness, 

VOL.  II,  2  L 


266  INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE,        LECT.  K 

which  the  Lord  the  righteous  Judge  shall  give  me  at 
thai  day  :  and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all  them  also 
that  love  his  t.ppearin,;,"  2  Tim.  iv.  6,  7,  S. 

And  can  it  be  nece.ssary  to  inquire  who  caused  this 
ii^ht  to  arise  ?  Who  removed  the  veil,  and  disclosed 
the  hidden  glories  of  eternity  ?  What  power  could 
tune  the  humau  tongue  to  such  raptures,  and  inspires 
mortal  breast  with  such  holy  and  triumphant  joy  ?  "  God 
is  the  Lord,  whici)  iiarh  shewed  us  light."  It  is  "  the 
revelati(m  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  sheweth  to  his  servants 
things  whicii  must  shortly  come  to  pass."  '*  By  the 
gospel  life  and  immort.'lity  are  brought  to  light;" 
'*  Even  th^  mystery  vvhich  hath  been  hid  fiom  ages  and 
fiom  ger.erations,  but  now  is  made  manifest  to  his 
saints  :  to  whom  God  would  make  knou  n  what  is  the 
riches  of  tlje  glory  of  tljis  mystery  among  the  Gentiles j 
which  is  Cbrist  in  you  the  hope  of  glory,"  Col.  i.  Q6,  27. 

Learn  hence  the  lolly  and  danger  of  all  opposition  to 
the  plans  of  eternal  Providence.  *'  He  is  wise  in  heart, 
and  mighty  m  strength  :  who  hath  hardened  himself 
against  Him  and  hath  prospered  ?"  Job  ix.  4.  *'  Why- 
do  the  heathen  rage,  and  the  people  imagine  a  vain 
thing?  Tiie  kings  of  the  earth  set  themselves,  and  the 
rulers  take  counsel  together,  against  the  Lord,  and 
against  his  anointed,^  saying.  Let  us  break  their  bands 
asunder,  and  cast  away  their  cords  fiom  us.  He 
that  sitteth  in  the  heavens  shall  laugh  :  the  Lord  shall 
have  them  in  d.-  rision.  Yet  have  I  set  my  King  upon  my 
holy  hill  ofZion.  Ask  of  me,  and  I  shall  give  thee  the 
heathen  for  tliine  inheritance,  and  the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  earth  for  tliy  possession,"  Psal.  ii.  2,  3,  4,  6,  8. 
*'  If  this  counsel  or  this  work  be  of  men,  it  will  come 
to  nought :  but  if  it  be  of  God,  ye  cannot  overthrow  it ; 
lest  haply  ye  be  found  even  to  fight  against  God,"  Acts 
V.  i:58,^9-  '*  Verily  I  ^ay  unto  you, till  heaven  and  earth 
pass,  one  jot  or  one  title  shall  in  no  wise  pass  from  the 
law,  till  all  be  fulhlled,"  Matt.  v.  18.  "  Woe  be  to 
him  who  striveth  vvitli  his  Maker."     Sinner,  learn  wis- 


LECT.  I.       INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.  96? 

dom  in  time  ;  cease  from  the  ruinous  contention  ;  "  it 
is  tiard  lor  thee  to  kick  against  the  pricks ;"  thou  art 
wounding,  destroying  only  thysclt".  '*  Kiss  the  Son,  lest 
he  he  angry,  and  ye  perisli  iVom  the  way,  wlien  his 
wrath  is  knidled  but  a  httle.  Blessed  are  all  they 
that  put  their  trust  in  him,"  Psal.  ii.  IJ. 

....Christians,  be  of  good  courage  ;  "  in  patience  pos- 
sess ye  your  souls."  God  will  support  and  vindicate 
the  cause  that  is  his  own.  His  truth  and  faithfuhiess, 
evinced  by  the  interposition  of  ages  past,  are  a  full 
security  for  his  care  and  attention  through  ages  to  come. 
Time,  which  impairs  all  things  else,  gives  stability, 
force  and  ell'ect  to  the  purposes  of  Heaven.  The  dis- 
solution of  the  frame  of  nature  is  the<;onsummation  of 
the  work  of  redemption.  As  the  writings  of  Moses  are 
an  improvement  upon  the  traditional  knowledge  of  the 
antediluvian  world  ;  and  as  the  gospel  is  an  niiprove- 
ment  upon  the  law  and  the  prophets,  so,  "  according 
to  his  promise,"  we  look  for  a  new  economy,  which 
shall  be  an  improvement  upon, and  an  extension,  confir- 
mation and  accomplishment  of  the  gospel  dispensation. 

....Learn  to  aspire  after  the  honor  and  happiness  of 
working  together  with  God  in  forwarding  this  gracious 
design.  It  is  the  glory  of  the  most  exalted  ot  all  be- 
ings ;  and  therefore,  surely,  deservedly  claims  the  em- 
ployment of  the  noblest  powers  of  man.  What  heart 
would  not  rejoice  in  putting  forth  a  helping  hand  to- 
wards rearing  this  blessed  fabric,  were  it  but  to  drive 
a  pin,  or  fasten  a  cord.  Remember  that  carelessness 
here  is  highly  criminal ;  that  to  sit  still  is  not  only  rob- 
bing yourself  of  the  most  exquisite  pleasure,  and  de- 
clining the  highest  honor  of  which  your  nature  is  capa- 
ble, but  is  at  the  same  time  the  highest  insult  to 
your  Creator,  and  the  most  certain  means  of  incurring 
his  displeasure.  Look  around  you,  and  observe  these 
myriads  of  your  fellow-creatures,  less  favored  of  Heaven 
than  you  are,  consider   them   well,  and  be  to  tiiem  in 


268  INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.       LECT.  1. 

the  place  of  God.      Extend  to  them  that  compassion^ 
Mliich  theFalherofmercieshath  extended  toward  thee. 

See,  my  brothers,  they  are  deformed,  diseased  in 
body  ;  they  are  distressed  in  their  circumstances  ;  they 
are  grieved  in  mind  ;  alas,  they  "  are  dead  in  trespas- 
ses and  sins  !"  Lost  to  God,  lost  to  all  the  valuable 
purposes  of  existence,  better  for  them,  they  had  never 
been  born.  But  yet  they  are  your  brethern  ,  they  are 
susceptible  of  pleasure  and  pain  like  you  ;  the  same 
ijun  enliglitens  them ;  the  gospel  aims  at  relieving  them 
as  well  as  you  ;  tlie  same  God  created  nnd  sustains 
and  cares  for  you  both.  Have  pity  upon  them  ;  strive 
to  restore  them  to  peace  with  themselves,  to  peace 
ivith  the  world,  to  peace  with  God.  "  It  is  not  the 
will  of  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven,  that  one  of  these 
little  ones  should  perish,"  Mat.  xviii.  l^.  *' Jesus, 
thou  Son  of  David,  hav^e  mercy  upon  them."  Let  the 
purpose  of  grace  comprehend  them,  even  them  also. 

Son  of  God,  who  didst  restore  agility  to  the  lame, 
sight  to  the  blind,  hearing  to  the  deaf,  the  faculty  of 
speech  to  the  dumb,  life  to  the  dead,  and  who  givest 
wisdom  to  the  wise. ...thou  shalt  renovate  all  things, 
thou  shalt  abolish  death  and  point  out  the  path  of  life  ! 
O,  I  shall  bless  tliee  with  transports  of  joy  ineflable, 
in  the  day  when  thfe  powers  of  heaven  shall  be  shaken 
and  the  heavens  pass  away  with  a  great  noise,  and  the 
earth  with  all  that  it  contains  shall  be  consumed  !  I'hen 
thy  sutlering  creatures,  delivered  from  all  the  ills  which 
oppressed  them,  shall  be  clothed  upon  with  a  glorious 
and  immortal  body,  fashioned  like  to  thy  glorious 
body ;  shall  be  perfectly  conformed  to  thy  blessed 
image. ..the  image  of  the  lirst-born  among  many  bre- 
thren !  Tlien  the  Saviour  of  the  world  shall  pronounce, 
Hot  from  the  expiring  agony  of  the  cross,  but  from  the 
radiance  of  a  throne  above  the  skies,"  "  It  is  finished  !" 
Then  He  who  *'  maketh  all  things  new,"  shall  with 
complacency  contemplate  this  second  glorious  creation^ 
and  proclaim  "  all  is  good,  yea,  very  good  !" 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  II. 

And  Moses  went  tip  into  the  mount,  and  a  cloud  covered 
the  mount.  And  the  glin'u  of  t lie  Lord  abode  upon 
Mount  Sinai,  and  the  cloud  covered  it  six  days  ;  and 
the  seventh  day  he  called  unfo  Moses  out  of  the  midst 
of  the  cloud.  And  the  sight  oj  the  glory  (f  the  Lard 
zvas  like  devouring  fre  on  the  top  of  (he  mount,  in 
tJie  eijes  of  the  children  of  Israel.  AndMoses  went 
into  the  midst  of  the  cloud,  and  gat  him  up  into  tiie 
mount :  and  Moses  was  in  tlie  mount  Jorty  days  and 
forty  7iights..., KaoDU's  xxiv.  15.... 18. 

BREAD  is  not  more  necessary  to  the  support  of 
human  Hie,  than  reharion  is  to  the  happiness  oi  a 
ra  londl  being  Man,  in  his  betler,  his  nnmoital  part, 
*'  lives  by  every  word  that  pioceedeth  out  of  the  mouth 
of  Gad."  In  more  than  one  instance  tlie  m'racle  has 
been  exhibited,  of  sustaining  tlie  body  without  food, 
and  yet  no  pain  nor  inconveniency  felt ;  but  for  the 
soul  to  exist,  and  to  exist  in  comfort,  undirected  by 
the  precepts,  unenlicrhtened  by  the  discoveries,  unsup- 
ported by  the  consulalions  of  religion,  is  a  miracle  not 
to  be  performed.  It  is  the  more  to  be  lamented  that 
the  attempt  is  so  often  fatally  male,  of  living  "with- 
out God  in  the  world  ,"  of  pursuing  a  happiness  that 
is  independent  of  the  great  Source  of  light  and  joy  ;  of 
seeking  peace,  rest  and  enjoyment  in  the  neglect  or 
violation  of  his  commandmt  nts,  Happy  it  is  for  men, 
if  after  having  made  the  fruitless  experiment  of  *'  seek- 


270  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  11. 

ing  the  living  among  the  dead,"  and  after  having  at 
length  discovered  that  success  is  vanity,  and  that  dis- 
appointment is  vexation  of  spirit,  have  been  persuad- 
ed, before  it  was  too  late,  to  draw  their  felicity  from 
the  pure  and  never-failing  sources  of  faith  and  a  good 
conscience ;  happy  they,  who  reconciled  to  God 
through  Christ  Jesus  their  Lord,  enjoy  real  tranquillity 
in  life,  and  well-grounded  hope  in  death. 

We  tremble  as  we  behold  Moses  advancing  to  the 
summit  of  the  burning  mountain  to  meet  God.  AVho 
can  walk  into  the  midst  of  a  flaming  furnace  and  live  ? 
But  is  it  possible  to  remove  from  God  an  instant  of 
time,  a  hair's  breadth  of  space  ?  No :  God  is  about 
our  path  and  our  bed,  is  watching  our  going  out  and 
coming  in,  our  lying  down  and  rising  up.  God  is  in 
this  place ;  and,  were  our  eyes  opened,  we  should 
even  now  behold  his  face  clothed  with  the  frowns  of 
just  displeasure,  or  beaming  with  the  smiles  of  pater- 
nal love. 

Was  the  law  given  by  "  the  disposition  of  angels," 
arrayed  in  all  their  majesty  and  might  ?  O  how  benign 
their  aspect,  how  aliectionate  their  assiduity,  how 
vigilant  their  care,  could  we  but  behold  them,  while 
they  aid  the  preaching  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  while 
they  attend  the  assemblies  of  a  christian  church,  and 
minister  to  them  who  are  the  heirs  of  salvation  !  As 
the  awfulness  and  solemnity  of  the  prophet's  condi- 
tion are  not  peculiar  to  him,  and  to  that  important 
occasion,  so  neither  are  the  privileges  which  he  enjoyed, 
nor  the  communion  to  which  he  was  admitted,  peculiar 
and  personal.  Christian,  you  have  but  to  retire  into 
your  closet  and  to  shut  the  door  after  you,  and  you  are 
immediately  on  the  top  of  a  higher  mountain  than 
Moses  climbed,  and  are  as  near  to  God  as  he  was  in  the 
most  precious  moments  of  the  most  intimate  commu- 
nication. Alone,  or  in  company,  we  have  access  at 
all  times  to  the  throne  of  grace  ;  and  we  have  what 
gave  him  safety  and  confidence  in  drawing  nigh  unto 


LECT.  II.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  271 

God ;  an  Advocate  with  the  Father,    a  great   High 
Priest,  a  M.di  I'or  betwixt  God  and  us. 

The  great  Jehovah,  having  dehvered  in  every  cir- 
cumstance of  magnificence  that  could  excite  attention, 
procure  respect,  and  enforce  obedience,  that  Ja  v, 
whose  general  nature,  tendency  and  design  together 
with  its  relation  to  the  evangelical  dispensation,  wee 
the  subject  of  a  former  Lecture,  proceeded  to  regulate 
their  civil  polity.  But  not  by  an  audible  voice,  in  the 
ears  of  all  the  people,  as  he  had  done  the  Javv  of  tiie 
ten  connnandments,  but  in  private  ci^nlerence  v\ith 
Moses,  to  be  by  him  delivered  to  the  people,  he  deliv- 
ered those  institutions  of  a  civd  and  political  nature, 
which  regarded  their  social  and  national  capaciiy.  In 
studying  these,  the  lovers  of  scripture  vMil  rejoice  to 
trace  the  justest  and  most  couipreliensive  views  of  hu- 
man nature,  the  noblest  and  most  liberal  ideas  of  le- 
gislation, the  most  perfect  equity,  the  profoundest  sa- 
gacity, and  the  most  unbounded  kindness  and  benevo- 
lence. But  it  exceeds  our  strength,  and  it  consists  not 
with  our  plan,  to  go  into  the  detail  of  these  excellent 
statutes.     We  pursue  the  history. 

Ttie  voice  from  Sinai  having,  m  dreadful  glory,  pro- 
claimed the  conditions  of  this  new  covenant,  directions 
are  given  for  the  solemn  and  public  ratification  of  it. 
This  was  done  that  the  obligation  which  was  originallv, 
invariably  and  necessarily  binding  upon  the  parties, 
might  acquire  additional  force  from  voluntary  consent, 
and  from  the  intervention  of  august  and  significant  cere- 
monies. I  trust  It  will  be  neither  unentertaining  nor 
uninstructive  to  attend  to  the  description  of  these  ce- 
remonies as  they  stand  upon  the  sacred  record.  They 
are  highly  interesting  whether  we  consider  them  as  the 
venerable  remains  of  a  very  remote  antiquity,  being  no 
less  than  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  fbrty-thiee 
years  prior  to  the  present  time  *  or,  as  the  original 
compact,  in  the  constitution  of  an  ancient,  important, 

*A.   D.   1792. 


!g7€l  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    11* 

well-known,  and  generally  interesting  national  go- 
vernment ;  or,  as  forming  a  part  ot  the  plan  of  a  di- 
vine  administration,  whose  force  can  never  be  spent, 
whose  iniiueiice  on  human  virtue  and  happiness  can 
never  expire. 

God  has  "  rpoken  once  in  bis  holiness,"  in  a  sensi- 
ble manner,  has  made  himself  seen,  heard  and  felt  by 
a  whole  people  together.  But  it  is  neither  consistent 
with  his  dignity,  nor  favorable  to  man's  improvement, 
that  he  should  always  or  often  make  himself  known  in 
that  manner.  He  has  spoken  thus  once,  that  every 
hearer  might  have  a  personal  reason  for  acknowledg- 
ing and  adoring  the  dread  Jehovah,  the  Fountain  of 
all  power,  the  supreme  Author  of  every  establishment. 
And  lie  speaks  thus  but  seldom,  that  all  men  may  learn 
to  revere  conscience,  his  vicegerent  upon  earth,  to 
study  his  word,  the  interpreter  of  his  nature  and  will  9 
and  to  respect  and  "  be  subject  to  the  powers  which 
be  ordained  of  God,  not  only  for  wrath  but  for  con- 
science sake."  Directions  are  accordingly  given  to  ra- 
tify the  covenant,  not  by  the  whole  people  in  person, 
butby  their  representatives.  The  persons  summoned  to 
attend  on  thss  great  occasion,  are  ;  hist,  Moses  himself, 
who  was  to  lepiesent  the  Me,iiator  between  the  high 
contracting  parties;  then  Aaron  and  his  two  sons, 
Nadab  and  Abiiui,  who  represented  the  I.evitical  body 
or  order  of  priesthood  ;  and  fnially,  seventy  of  the 
elders  of  Israel,  who  were  to  act  in  the  name  of  the 
congregation  at  large.  When  we  observe  tlie  names 
of  Nadab  and  Abiiiu  in  this  respectable  list,  and  look 
forward  to  their  dreadful  and  uniimely  end,  we  are  led 
to  a  retlection  of  no  small  imjjortance  in  studying  the 
sacred  volume  ;  namely,  tliat  the  destination  of  Pro- 
vidence in  raising  particular  persons  to  eminent,  ho- 
norable and  important  stations  in  civil  society,  is  some- 
tljing  extremely  different  from  "the  election  according 
to  grace,"  A  Cyrus  and  a  Nebuchadnezzar  may  be 
the  servants  of  God,  to  execute  his  vengeance  or  his 


JLECT.  II.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  273 

Jove,  without  knowing  any  thing  of  their  Employer^ 
and  their  private  and  personal  character  may  remain  un- 
affected by  their  public  conduct.  The  man  according 
to  God's  ovvn  heart,  in  the  view  of  some  great  object 
of  public  utility,  has  sometimes  been  found  dishonor- 
ing God  by  private  vice,  and  degrading,  destroying 
himself,  while  he  has  been  materially  serving  the  world. 
This  most  serious  consideration  dictated  to  the  great 
apostle  of  the  Gentiles  that  necessary  rule  of  conduct. 
**  I  keep  under  my  body  and  bring  it  into  subjection ; 
Jest  that  by  any  means,  when  I  have  preached  to 
others,  I  myself  should  be  a  cast-away,"  1  Cor.  ix.  27. 
And  it  is  a  loud  call  to  every  one  who  acts  in  a  public 
capacity,  to  support  and  adorn  it  by  private  virtue 
and  unaffected  piety.  While  the  great  God  was  thus 
putting  honor  on  these  seventy-three  persons  in  the 
eyes  of  all  the  people,  he  sees  it  necessary  to  put  and 
to  keep  them  in  mind  of  their  distance  and  depen- 
dence; **  Worship  ye  afar  off:  Moses  aione  shall  come 
near  the  Lord,  but  they  shall  not  come  nigh.*" 

This  message  being  reported  to  the  people,  they  ex- 
press their  cheerful  and  unanimous  consent.  "  All 
the  people  answered  with  one  voice,  and  said.  All 
the  words  which  the  Lord  hath  said  will  we  do,"  Verse 
3.  Moses  upon  this  reduces  into  writing  the  articles 
of  the  treaty  between  God  and  the  people,  to  be  re- 
cited aloud  in  the  hearing  of  all  the  parties  concerned, 
previous  to  the  solemnities  of  the  ensuing  ratification. 
According  to  the  form  observed  upon  such  occasions, 
rising  up  early  in  the  morning,  he  builds  an  altar  un- 
der the  hill,  the  emblem  of  the  divine  presence,  on  the 
one  side ;  "  and  twelve  pillars  according  to  the  twelve 
tribes  of  Israel,"  Verse  4 ;  or  an  heap  consisting  of 
twelve  large  stones,  according  to  the  number  of  the 
tribes,  to  represent  the  people,  on  the  opposite  side; 
and  upon  it  he  offers  a  burnt-offering,  a  sacrifice  made 
by  fire  unto  the  Lord.  The  application  of  the  blood 
of  the  victim  principally  challenges  our  attention  in  the 

VOL.  II.  2  M 


274  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  tJECT.  n, 

celebration  of  this  awful  rite.  It  was  divided  into  two 
equal  parts :  one  half  was  put  into  basons,  and  placed 
by  the  twelve  pillars  of  stone  :  where  in  all  probabilitr 
were  arranged  the  seventy  elders,  the  representatives 
of  ev  ery  tribe  standing  by  the  pillar  peculiar  to  their 
tribe:  the  other  ijalf  was  sprinkled  upon  the  altar  on 
the  other  side.  Thus  that  which  constituted  the  life 
of  the  sacrifice  was  separated,  and  Moses  standing  be- 
tween the  divided  parts,  and  having  some  of  the  blood 
now  denomuiated  the  blood  of  the  covenant,  or  of  the 
purifying  victim,  in  his  hands,  rehearsed  aloud  the 
words  of  the  covenant  in  the  audience  of  the  people, 
who  were  represented  by  their  elders,  and  then  so- 
lemnly demanded  whether  they  aceeded  to  the  eondi- 
tions  of  it. 

The  form  of  adjuration  employed  in  such  cases,  as 
you  heard  in  a  former  Lecture,*  now  in  the  hands  of 
many  of  you,  was  inexpressibly  awful  and  tremendous. 
"As  the  body  of  this  victim  is  cleft  asunder,  as  the 
blood  of  this  animal  is  poured  out,  so  let  my  body 
be  divided  and  my  blood  shed,  if  I  prove  unsteadfast 
and  perfidious."  Under  an  engagement  of  this  dread- 
ful miport,  they  consent  to  the  conditions  of  tiie  treaty, 
saying,  "All  that  the  Lord  hath  said  will  we  do,  and 
be  obedient."!  Whereupon  Moses  takes  i)f  the  blood, 
afid  sprhikles  it  upon  the  people,  in  the  persons  of 
their  representatives,  as  he  had  before  sprinkled  it 
upon  the  altar,  expressing  thereby  God's  acceptance 
of  ti)en'  persons  and  services,  and  his  engagement  to 
fultil  all  that  the  covenant  promised  on  his  part.  Mat- 
tcis  being-  thus  adjusted,  and  peace  established,  tlie 
burnt  .sacrifice  is  .succeeded  by  a  peace-oftering,  and 
the  parties,  a  friends,  sit  down  to  partake  of  a  com- 
mon repast.  This  is  evidently  the  meaning  of  the  ex- 
pression in  the  end  of  the  eleventh  verse  :  '*  Also  they 
saw  God,  and  did  eat  and  drink  j"  that  is,  as  in  the 
presence  of  the  most  high  God,  at  peace  with  him,  and 

*  Vol.  I.  Lecture  xiii.  t  Verse  7. 


X2CT.  IL  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  9!^5 

at  peace  amonp  themselves,  they  did  eat  of  the  same 
bread  and  draukot"  the  same  cup.  It  would  be  easy, 
were  it  necessary,  to  contirm  this  interpretation  by 
quoting  the  practice  of  other  nations  in  latter  times, 
undoubtedly  borrowed  from  rites  of  God's  own  insti- 
tution. It  would  appear  from  the  letter  of  the  narra- 
tion, that  the  scene  of  this  sacred  feast  was  a  higher 
region  of  the  raountam  than  that  where  the  covenant 
was  ratified.  Hebuilded  the  altar  wwc^er  the  hill,  and 
set  up  the  pillars,  as  it  is  ver.  4 ;  and  when  the  solem- 
nities of  that  mferior  station  were  duly  celebrated,  the 
nation  whom  God  had  thus  chosen  is  exalted  to  a  supe- 
rior rank,  and  admitted  to  a  more  intimate  union  with 
their  Maker.  "  Out  of  Zion,  the  perfection  of  beau- 
ty, God  now  shines,  calling  to  the  heavens  from 
above,  and  to  the  earth.  Gather  my  saints  together 
unto  me  ;  those  that  have  made  a  covenant  with  me 
by  sacrifice,"  Psalm  1.  5.  Purified  by  blood,  the  blood 
of  the  covenant,  they  are  encouraged  to  mount  higher 
and  higher,  toapproaqh  nearer  and  nearer;  they  are 
enabled,  with  enlightened  eyes,  to  discern  more  clearly, 
and  to  look  more  steadfastly. 

Being  sprinkled  with  blood,  "  then  went  up  Moses 
and  Aaron,  Nadab  and  Abihu,  and  seventy  of  the 
elders  of  Israel ;  and  they  saw  the  God  of  Israel :  and 
there  was  under  his  feet  as  it  were  a  paved  work  of  a 
sapphire-stone,  and  as  it  were  the  body  of  heaven  in 
his  clearness.  And  upon  the  nobles  of  the  children  of, 
Israel  he  laid  not  his  hand  :  also  they  saw  God,  and. 
did  eat  and  drink."  Verses  9>  10,  11.  What  a  stream 
of  splendid  ideas  here  rushes  in  upon  us !  "  They  saw 
the  God  of  Israel."  They  saw  Him  whose  presence 
is  the  glory  of  heaven,  the  light  of  whose  counte- 
nance is  the  joy  of  angels  and  archangels  ;  they  saw 
Him  descended  to  earth,  to  be  the  light,  glory  and  joy 
ot  his  people,  to  dwell  among  them,  and  to  be  their 
fHend,  their  father  and  their  God;  they  saw  Him  en- 
gaging liimself  by  every  thing  that  could  affect  the  sea- 


§7^  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    II. 

ses,  kindle  the  imagination,  or  melt  the  heart,  to  guide 
and  protect  them,  to  provide  for  them,  to  bless  them 
and  to  do  them  good.  *'  They  saw  the  God  oilsj^aeV* 
their  fathers'  God,  their  own  covenant  God,  and  the 
God  of  their  seed  to  the  latest  generations.  They  saw 
God  !  but,  what  did  they  see  ?  That  face  whose  lustre 
constrains  the  cherubim  to  cover  their  faces  with  their 
wings. ...those  eyes,  which  "  as  a  flame  of  fire  go  up 
and  down  through  the  earth,*'  which  discern  impurity 
in  the  heavens  and  folly  in  angels. ...that  mouth  which 
spake  the  universe  into  existence,  and  whose  lightest 
word  shakes  the  foundations  of  the  everlasting  hills.... 
the  hand  that  wields  the  thunder,  or  the  feet  that  walk 
upon  the  swift  wings  of  the  wind  ?  No  :  the  nobles  of 
Israel  had  shrunk  into  nothing  before  such  an  awful 
display  of  Deity.  He  needed  not  to  have  laid  his 
hand  upon  them ;  one  glance  of  those  piercing  eyes 
which  guard  the  law,  had  been  sufficient  to  consume 
them  in  a  moment.  What  then  did  they  see  ?  What 
was  under  his  feet ;  and  even  that,  something  which 
could  not  be  represented,  expressed  or  described; 
*'asit  were  the  body  of  heaven  in  his  clearness,'^ 
Verse  10.  Like  Paul  caught  up  into  the  third  heaven, 
but  incapable  to  tell  whether  in  the  body  or  out  of  the 
body ;  caught  up  into  paradise,  and  listening  to  the 
conversation  of  its  blest  inhabitants,  but  what  he  heard 
were  words  unspeakable,  "  which  it  is  not  lawful  for 
a  man  to  utter,"  ^  Cor.  xii.  4.  Was  it  needful  to  cau- 
tion such  men  and  such  a  people  against  idolatry  r^ 
What  similitude  could  they  employ,  who  though  they 
enjoyed  the  fullest  and  most  satisfying  demonstration 
of  Jehovah's  presence,  felt  their  understanding  con- 
fined, their  imagination  checked,  their  senses  con- 
founded. They  are  lost  in  a  splendor  which  at  once 
attracted  and  repelled ;  which  was  only  the  foundation 
and  external  vail  where  glory  resided,  the  pavement  not 
the  ceiling,  the  habitation  not  the  inhabitant ;  a  splen- 
dor resembling  the  transparency  of  the  gem,  which 


LECT.  IL  HISTORY  OF  MOSES,  277 

seems  to  transmit  the  light,  and  the  solidity  of  the  gem, 
which  no  force  can  penetrate. 

Is  it  too  fanciful  to  suppose,  that  there  is  singular 
beauty  in  the  color  of  the  jewel  here  specified  by  the 
«acred  penman,  who  was  an  eye-witness  of  this  glori- 
ous appearance,  and  who  attempts  toccnney  an  idea 
of  what  he  savy  ?  "Paved  work  of  a  sapphire  stone,'* 
the  happy  medium  between  the  fair  and  dazzMng  lus- 
tre of  the  diamond,  and  the  dim  familiar  complexion 
of  the  emerald  :  not  the  fiery  glare  of  the  empyrean  : 
nor  the  sober  verdure  of  the  earth;  but  the  pellucid 
azure  of  the  christal  sky,  which  equally  corrects  and 
tempers  the  dazzling  power  of  the  noontide  sun,  and 
the  oppressive  gloom  of  the  midnight  hour;  which 
possesses  light  enough  to  discover  the  object  without 
■distressing  the  organ,  and  shade  sufficient  to  relieve 
without  sinking  into  obscurity  ? 

Not  overwhelmed,  but  cheered  and  elevated  by  this 
moderate  display  of  the  divine  glory  ;  having  seen 
<jrodand  yet  living;  feeling  his  hand  upon  them,  yet 
uncrushed  by  its  weight ;  the  nobles  of  the  children 
of  Israel  conclude  the  services  of  this  eventful  day  by 
the  banquet  of  peace  and  love.  They  must  now  re- 
turn to  secular  employments,  and  descend  from  the 
mountain  ;  but  Moses  lias  yet  farther  manifestations 
of  the  will  of  God  to  receive,  and  is  commanded  to 
ascend  still  higher.  "  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses, 
Come  up  to  me  into  the  mount,  and  be  there :  and  I 
will  give  thee  tables  of  stone,  and  a  law,  and  com- 
mandments which  I  have  v/ritten,  that  thou  mayest 
teach  them,"  Verse  12.  Be  our  attainments  what  they 
will,  who  is  it  that  "  hath  attained,  or  is  already  per- 
fect?" Our  arrival  at  one  eminence  is  only  to  see  from 
its  summit  another,  and  thence  another  still  rising  above 
us  :  but  in  moral  and  intellectual  pursuits,  this  is  a  dis- 
appointment that  mortifies  not,  an  exercise  that  fa- 
tigues not :  the  joy  of  heaven    is  to  make  progress  in 


578  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  IT. 

f  he  contemplation    and  discovery  of  perfection  that 
knows  no  limit,  knows  no  end. 

From  this  higher  elevation,  Moses  is  informed  that 
be  is  to  receive  the  same  law  in  a  different  form  :  *'  I 
wilt  give  thee  tables  of  stone,  and  a  law,  and  com- 
mantiments  which  I  have  written :  that  thou  mayest 
teach  them,"  Verse  12.  As  he  arises  towards  heaven, 
the  dispensation  of  which  he  was  the  minister  becomes 
more  and  more  plain  and  palpable.  A  matter  of  such 
deep  importance  must  not  be  trusted  to  the  vague  and 
varying  traditions  of  fallible  and  changing  men,  but 
coUected  into  a  record  that  can  defy  the  lapse  of  time, 
and  preserve  unchanging  truth  and  dignity  amidst  the 
revolutions  of  empire  and  the  wreck  ol"  nations.  This 
was  graciously  intended  to  prevent  the  necessity  of  a 
Irequent  interposition  of  Deity,  which  must  at  length 
have  diminished  its  impression  by  commonness  and  fa- 
miliarity. What  God  therefore  at  first,  with  his  crea- 
tive finger,  curiously  engraved  on  the  heart  of  man,  he 
audibly  pronounced  amidst  the  awful  glories  of  Sinai, 
»nd  afterwards  committed  to,  writing  on  tables  of  stone 
for  perpetual  preservation.  And  baj)py  it  isfor  man, 
that  he.has  not  been  left,  for  moral  and  religious  in- 
struction, to  the  traditions  of  men  who  are  ever  chang- 
ing^ and  inconsistent  with  themselves,  or  to  the  ilimsy, 
imperfect,  contradictory  systems  of  philosophy  and 
science,  falsely  so  called ;  but  that  he  is  brought  to 
the  law  and  to  the  testimony,  to  Moses  and  the  pro- 
|>hets,  to  the  Saviour  himself  and  his  apostles,  to  a 
Inhle  and  a  sabbatli.  Happy  it  is  that  every  one  is 
furnished  with  one  and  the  same  light  to  his  feet  and 
lamp  to  his  paths,  and  that  all  are  taught  of  God  from 
the  least  to  the  greatest.  But  indeed  the  care  of 
JVovidence  in  preserving  this  precious  record,  and 
transmitting  it  to  us  unaltered,  unimpaired,  is  a  per- 
petual miracle,  a  series  of  revelations,  which  we  are 
l»ound  to  acknowledge  with  wonder,  and  to  improve 
with  gratitude. 


tECt.  If,  HISTORY  OP  MOSES.  2?^ 

In  the  next  ascent  into  the  mount,  Moses  is  acconi- 
panied,  aceitain  lengtli  at  least,  and  no  doubt  by  di- 
vijie  appointment,  byjo.hua  his  minister,  on  whom. 
God  began  to  put  honor  thus  early,  in  order  to  exalt 
him  in  tlie  eyes  of  the  people  whom  he  was  destined 
one  day  to  eommand,  and  to  prepare  him  betimes  for 
the  wise  and  tiaithlul  discharge  of  his  high  office,  by 
communion  with  God.  As  this  absence  of  Moses, 
from  the  weighty  duties  of  his  charge,  was  to  be  of 
longer  contmuance  than  u.Mial,  the  management  of 
civil  atfairs,  and  the  administration  of  justice  were  com- 
mitted, in  the  mean  time,  to  Aaron  and  Hur,  his 
companions  and  coa<ljutors  on  the  mount,  when  by 
the  lifting  and  holdiny;  up  his  hands  Ama^ekwa.s  smit- 
ten before  Israel.  Was  ever  spot  of  this  earthly  ball 
so  higljly  hontired  as  that  barren  mountain  in  the 
midbt  of  the  desert .?  P<  rscms,  not  (.laces,  possess 
dignity.  The  presence  of  God  confers  greatness  and 
importance;  He  can  receive  none  from  created,  much 
less  from  artificial  pomp  an<l  magniticence.  The  great 
God  "dwelleth  not  in  temples  made  with  hands.'* 
"  The  heaven  and  the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  con- 
tain him  i"  but  "Thus  saith  the  high  and  lofty  One 
that  inhabiteth  eternity,  whose  name  is  Holy,  1  dwell 
in  tlie  high  and  holy  place ;  with  him  also  that  is  of 
a  contrite  and  humble  spirit,  to  revive  the  spirit  of 
the  humble,  and  to  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite 
ones,"  Isai.  Ivii.   15. 

The  curiosity  of  travellers  has  been  excited  to  visit 
this  scene  of  wonders.  But  is  there  not  an  intentional 
obscurity  spread  over  the  description,  to  baffle  idle 
curiosity,  and  to  call  us  to  the  spirit  and  intention  of 
the  dispensation,  not  the  external  apparatus  of  it } 
Wherever  there  is  this  book;  wherever  there  is  a  prin- 
ciple of  conscience  ;  wherever  there  is  common  rea- 
son and  understanding,  there  is  the  law,  there  is 
Sinai,  rht  re  is  God.  It  is  not  to  make  a  pilgrimage  to 
the  hoiy  sepulchre,  to  stand  on  Calvary,  to  drive  inti- 


280  HISTORY  Of  iWOSfiS.  LECT.    % 

dels  by  force  of  arms  out  of  Jewry,  that  constitute, 
the  faith  and  piety  of  the  gospel ;  but  to  know  Christ 
Jesus  and  him  crucified  in  "  the  power  of  his  resurrec- 
tion, and  the  fellowship  of  his  suiierings,  being  made 
conl'oimable  unto  his  death,"  Phil.  iii.   10. 

The  appearances  of  God's  presence  and  providence 
vary  their  aspect,  according  to  the  distance  at  which 
they  are  contemplated,,  and  the  medium  through  which 
we  view  them.  What  to  the  nobles  in  the  mount  ap- 
peared "as  it  were  a  paved  work  of  a  sapphire-stone, 
and  as  it  were  the  body  of  heaven  in  his  clearness," 
verse  10. ..to  the  multitude  in  the  plain  wore  a  more 
threatening  and  terrible  appearance.  "  The  sight  of 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  was  like  devouring  fire,  on  the 
top  of  the  mount,  in  the  eyes  of  the  children  of  Israel,'* 
verse  17.  Fire  ^at  once  consumes  and  refines,  leaves 
to  the  pure  gold  all  its  solidity  and  value,  and  lays 
hold  only  of  the  dross.  Moses  undismayed,  because 
following  the  command  of  God,  advances  into  the  midst 
of  consuming  fire ;  and  so  far  is  nature  from  being 
overpowered  and  destroyed  by  this  keen,  piercing  ele- 
ment, that  it  is  rather  cherished  and  strengthened  by 
it.  Flame  supplies  the  place  of  food  ;  instead  of  perish- 
jng  Jn  a  moment,  at  the  end  of  forty  days,  without 
any  other  means  of  subsistence,  we  see  the  prophet 
descend  in  additional  glory  and  renovated  vigor;  for 
all  creatures  are  and  do  that  which  their  Creator  wills. 

The  next  seven  chapters  contain  a  minute  descrip- 
tion of  that  sacred  structure  and  its  service,  which  God 
intended  should  be  "  the  shadow  of  good  things  to 
come  j"  of  which  eveiy  iota  and  title  was  of  divine 
contrivance  and  appointment,  and  undoubtedly  had  a, 
meaning  and  significahcy  which  we  cannot  in  every 
particular  find  out  to  perfection.  The  pattern  of  it 
was  shewed  unto  Moses  in  the  mount,  and  particu- 
lar directions  were  given  for  its  construction  ;  in  these 
were  employed  the  forty  days  mentioned  in  the  close 
of  this  chapter  ;  wiien  the  history  suddenly  breaks  off 


LECT.   II.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  281 

to  exhibit  a  scene  of  a  very  dilVeient  nature,  which, 
if  God  permit,  will  form  the  subject  of  the  next  L^c- 
liire  ;  namely,  the  unprovoked  revolt  of  Israel  to 
Idolatry,  the  fabrication  of  the  golden  calf,  and  the 
hasty  descent  of  Moses,  to  stem  that  dreadful  torrent 
of  euilt  and  wrath  which  had  begun  to  flow. 

In  the  ratification  ot  the  covenant  between  God  and 
Israel,  we  see  the  stress  that  was  laid  upon  blood. 
The  blood  of  the  innocent  victim  must  be  puu.ed 
out,  and  the  altar  must  be  sprinkled  with  blood.  The 
elders  of  the  people  must  be  purified  with  blood. 
Without  the  shedding  of  blood  there  is  no  remission, 
no  friendship,  no  peace,  no  access  :  life  must  be  paid 
to  redeem  life.  Blood  in  the  sacrifice  is  the  one  thing 
needful,  tiie  one  thin^^  significant :  blood  in  religious 
olfices  is  all  in  all.  Blood  applied  to  any  other  pur- 
pose, is  contaminating,  unhallowed,  unwholesome  tor 
tbod,  polluting,  not  purifying  to  the  flesh,  is  a  source 
of  corruption  and  death,  not  of  health  and  lii'ti.  The 
idea  of  blood,  in  one  vievv  or  the  other,  runs  through 
the  whole  history  of  redemption.  It  occurs  not  more 
frequently  in  the  Old  Testament  than  in  the  New. 
One  great  sacrifice  has  indeed  put  an  end  for  ever  to  the 
future  effusion  of  blood  ;  but  it  is  still  symbolically  held 
out  as  the  medium  of  leconciliafion  and  access  to  God. 
"  We  have  redemption  through  his  blood,  the  lorgive- 
n.ess  of  sins  according  to  the  riches  of  his  grace,"  Eph. 
i.  7-  We  are  redeemed,  "  not  wi^hcorruptible  lhings,as 
silver  and  gold,  but  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  as 
of  a  lamb  without  blemish  and  without  spot,"  1  Pettr 
i.  18,  19-  We  "  draw  nigh  to  God  through  the  blood 
of  his  Son."  When  we  approach  to  ratify  '^very  one 
his  personal  covenant  witli  God  at  the  communion  ta- 
ble, we  commemorate  the  death  of  Christ  in  the  sym- 
bols of  his  body  broken,  and  his  blood  .shed.  "  Tliis 
is  the  blood  of  the  covenant,  said  Moses,  which  the 
Lord  hath  made  with  you,"  and  this  is  the  New  Tesfa- 
iiient  in  my  blood,  saith  Christ,  shed  for  the  remissioa 

VOL.  II.  2  N 


282  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  li, 

of  sins."  Wlien  we  look  toward  eternal  rest,  the 
lioJy  city,  tiie  Jemsaleni  that  is  above,  the  new  and 
living  way  which  leads  thither,  which  conducts  into 
the  holiest  of  all,  is  through  the  rent  vail  of  the  Re- 
deemer's ilesh.  *'  His  blood  be  upon  us  and  on  our 
children,"  exclaimed  the  Jews,  while  they  were  cruci- 
fying the  Lord  of  glory.     Dreadful  imprecation  ! 

O  Lord,  require  not  our  blood  of  our  own  hand,  nor 
of  every  man  at  the  hand  of  his  brother.  O  Lord, 
let  this  man's  blood  be  upon  us  and  upon  our  children, 
not  as  an  oppressive  load,  as  it  was  on  those  who  with 
wicked  hands  impiously  shed  it,  but  as  an  atonement 
for  our  sins,  as  a  sacrifice  of  a  sweet  smeUing  savour, 
acceptable  unto  God;  that  "  being  justified  by  faith, 
we  may  have  peace  with  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  By  whom  also  we  may  have  access  by  faith 
into  this  grace  wherein  we  stand,  and  rejoice  in  hope 
©f  the  glory  of  God."     Amen,     Amen, 


HISTORY  OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  III. 

And  zvhen  the  people  saw  that  Moses  delayed  to  come 
doivn  out  of^  the  mount,  the  people  gathered  them- 
selves together  unto  Aaron,  and  said  unto  him,  Up, 
make  us  gods  which  shall  go  be/ore  us  :  for  as  for  this 
Moses,  the  man  that  brought  us  up  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt,  tve  wot  not  ivhat  is  become  of  him.  And 
Aaron  said  unto  them.  Break  off  the  golden  ear-rings 
which  are  in  the  ears  of  your  ivives,  of  your  sons  and 
of  your  daughters,  and  hrijig  them  unto  me.  And 
all  the  people  brake  off  the  golden  ear-rings  zvhich  were 
in  their  ears,  a?id  brought  them  unto  Aai'on.  And 
he  received  them  at  their  hand,  and  fashioned  it  with 
a  graving-tool,  after  he  had  made  it  a  molten  calf: 
and  they  said.  These  be  thy  gods,  O  Israel,  which 
brought  thee  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt. ...Exodvs 
xxxii.  1...4. 

•THHE  real  instances  of  hunian  folly  and  extravagance 
-*-  far  exceed  the  conceptions  of  the  most  lively  ima- 
gination. All  history,  and  every  day's  experience, 
justify  the  mortifying  account  which  the  prophet  gives 
of  our  corrupted  nature...."  The  heart  is  deceitiiil  above 
all  things,  and  desperately  wicked  :  who  can  know 
it  ?"  Jer.  xvii.  9.  The  partiality  of  self-love,  and  the 
charity  of  a  kind  disposition,  would  at  times  lead  us 
to  form  a  more  favorable  jugdment  both  of  ourselves 
and  of  others,  than  we  deserve.  The  form  of  sin,  seen 
in  its  nakedness,  is  so  hideous,  that  we  shrink  from  it 


284  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  HI. 

with  horror;  but  use  familiarizes  the  spectre  ;  and  we 
are  insensibly  led  to  bear,  to  be,  and  to  do  that  which 
once  we  abhorred.  Could  a  prophet  have  foretold  one 
half  of  the  irregularities,  the  excesses,  the  enormities 
of  our  lives,  we  hould  have  deemed  the  ])redict;on  a 
falsehood  and  an  insult;  and,  with  the  resentment  of 
conscious  virtue,  we  should  have  been  ready  to  exclaim 
in  the  words  of  Hazat  1,  "Is  thy  servant  a  dog,  that 
he  biiould  do  tliis  great  thing?"  Yet  alas!  the  event 
has  wofully  verified  the  cruel  imputation ;  and  exhibited 
the  man  fallen  from  his  excellency,  become  the  very 
monster  he  justly  detested  ;  the  man  sunk  into  an  ob- 
ject of  pity,  of  scorn,  or  of  detestation  to  himself  and 
to  mankind. 

Alany  practices  appear  to  us  absurd  and  unnatural 
merely  because  we  are  not  accustomed  to  them.  He- 
rodotus relates,  that  Darius,  king  of  Persia,  having 
assembled  the  Greeks  who  were  under  his  command, 
demanded  of  them  what  bribe  they  would  take  to  in- 
duce them  to  eat  the  dead  bodies  of  their  parents,  Ps 
the  Indians  did?  Being  answered,  that  it  was  impossible 
for  them  ever  to  abandon  themselves  to  so  great  inhu- 
manity, the  king,  in  the  presence  of  the  same  Greeks, 
demanded  of  some  Indians  what  consideration  would 
prevail  with  them  to  burn  the  dead  bodies  of  their  pa- 
rents, as  the  Greeks  did  ?  The  Indians  expressing  the 
utmost  horror,  entreated  the  king  to  impose  upon 
them  any  hardship  rather  than  that.  Among  the  Hot- 
tentots, the  aged,  so  long  as  they  are  able  to  do  any 
•work,  are  treated  with  great  tenderne^ss  and  hun.an- 
ity  ;  but  when  they  can  no  longer  crawl  about,  they 
are  thrust  out  of  the  society,  and  put  in  a  solitary  hut, 
there  to  die  of  hunger  or  age,  or  to  be  devoured  of 
wild  beasts.  Ilyou  expostulate  with  them  upon  the 
savagt  ness  of  this  custom,  tliey  are  astonished  you 
should  reckon  it  inhuman  :  *'  Is  it  not  much  greater 
cruelty,"  they  ask,  "to  suiHer  persons  to  linger  and 
languish  out  a  miserable  old  age,  and  not  put  an  end 


LECT.  III.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  285 

fo  their  wretcbcdiicss,  by   putling   an  end   Lo  tlicir 
aysr 

Idolatrv  is  one  of  those  ])rnclices,  to  our  a[)]irchen- 
sion,  so  foolish  and  unreascjnable,  that  we  wonder  how 
it  ever  obtained  footing  in  the  world  ;  and  with  diffi- 
<;iilty  are  we  brought  to  believe  the  avidity  with  which 
whole  nations  have  given  into  it.  The  particular  cir- 
cumstances of  the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness,  render 
their  proneness  to  idol  worship  peculiarly  monstrous 
and  unaccountable.  The  chain  ot"  miracles  which  ac- 
companied their  deliverance  from  Egypt;  that  con- 
stant symbol  of  the  divine  presence  wh'ch  attended 
them,  the  pillar  of  fire  and  cloud;  the  daily  miracu- 
lous supply  of  bread  from  heaven;  the  recent  anath- 
ema pronounced  against  the  worship  of  images  from 
the  dreadful  glory  of  Mount  Sinai;  the  scrupulous 
care  employed,  if  we  may  use  the  expression,  to  ex- 
hibit no  manner  of  similitude  of  the  Deity  in  Horeb, 
to  prevent  the  possibility  of  a  pretence  to  use,  them- 
selves, or  to  transmit  to  posterity  any  sensible  repre- 
sentation of  the  invisible  God;  all  tliese,  superadded 
t©  the  plainest  dictates  of  common  sense  and  reason, 
clothe  with  a  blackness  and  malignity  not  to  be  ex- 
pressed, the  strange  conduct  which  is  the  subject  of 
this  chapter. 

Moses,  foreseeing  the  length  of  his  absence  in  the 
mount,  had  wisely  delegated  his  power  to  Aaron  and 
Hur,  that  the  operations  oi'  government  and  the  ad- 
ministration of  justice  might  suffer  no  interruption. 
God,  the  great  God,  was  now  vouchsafing  to  employ 
himself  in  prescribing  a  mode,  and  a  ministry  of  wor- 
ship tor  his  Israel,  which  should  posse>s  all  the  pomp 
and  splendor  displayed  by  the  nations  in  the  service 
of  their  false  gods,  together  with  a  sacredness  and  dig- 
nity peculiar  to  itself.  He  was  preparing  to  gratify 
their  very  senses  by  external  shew,  as  their  souls  by 
heavenly  wisdom.  He  was  planning  a  tabernacle,  es- 
"tablishing  a  priesthood,  and  appointing  festivals  and 


•2'86  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT,    IIL 

sacrificesj  whose  magnificence  should  leave  them  no- 
thing to  regret  in  the  glory  which  they  had  seen  in 
Egypt ;  and,  at  that  very  time,  they  are  employing 
themselves  in  devising  and  executing  a  plan  of  religi- 
ous service,  equally  disrespectful  to  God  and  dishonor- 
able to  themselves. 

Their  guilt  begins  in  sinful  impatience  and  presump- 
tion. In  matters  both  of  life  and  religion  men  greatly 
err,  when  they  take  upon  them  to  carve  for  themselves. 
*'  Vain  men  would  be  wise,  though  man  be  born  like 
a  wild  asses  colt,"  Job  xi.  12.  The  transition  is  so 
sudden  that  it  seems  incredible.  Not  many  days  are 
past  since  they  had  given  the  most  solemn,  exphcit  and 
unreserved  consent  to  the  whole  of  the  divine  law. 
*'  All  that  the  Lord  hath  said  will  we  do,  and  be  obe- 
dient," Verse  7-  The  treaty  had  been  but  just  rati- 
fied by  a  covenant,  a  sacrifice,  and  a  feast,  with  a  so- 
lemnity not  easily  to  be  forgotten.  The  noise  of  the 
mighty  thunderings  has  scarcely  ceased  ;  the  ineffable 
glory  of  the  God  of  Israel  is  yet  present  to  their  eyes  ; 
they  have  not  well  recovered  from  the  terror  inspired 
by  that  voice  which  made  heaven  and  earth  to  trem- 
ble. Yet  even  thus  circumstanced,  as  one  man  they 
fly  to  the  appointment,  not  of  a  new  leader  and  com- 
mander, though  that  had  been  ingratitude  without  a 
parallel,  but  with  an  impiety  the  most  shocking  and 
(.onionnding,  to  the  creation  of  a  new  god.  And  the 
very  first  exercise  of  the  power  which  was  committed 
unto  Aaron  for  the  public  good,  is  to  be  the  leader,  the 
abettor,  and  an  example,  in  practising  the  abominations 
of  that  country  from  which  they  had  been  so  happily 
delivered. 

"  And  when  the  people  saw  that  Moses  delayed  to 
come  down  out  of  the  mount,  the  people  gathered 
themselves  together  unto  Aaron,  and  said  unto  him. 
Up,  make  us  gods  which  shall  go  before  us  ;  for  as  for 
this  Moses,  the  man  that  brought  us  up  out  ot"  the 
land  of  Egypt,   we  wot  not  what  i.^   become  of  iiim/' 


lECT.  III.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  2^87 

Verse  1.  There  is  a  sottishness,  a  madness,  as  well  as 
a  wickedness  in  certain  vices,  which,  at  fnst  sight,  we 
should  deem  inconsistent  with  each  other.  The  irra- 
tionality of  the  brute,  the  frenzy  of  the  lunatic,  and 
the  malignity  of  the  demon,  here  discover  themselves 
at  once  >  and  leave  us  perplexed  which  we  are  most  to 
wonder  at  and  deplore.  What  shall  we  say  of  the  stu- 
pidity which  talked  of  making  gods,  and  of  following 
that  as  a  guide  which  itself  could  not  move,  but  as  it 
was  carried  }  With  what  notes  of  indignation  shall  we 
mark  our  abhorrence  of  that  base  ingratitude  which 
could  speak  contemptuously  of  such  a  benefactor  as 
Moses ;  **  This  Moses,  the  man  that  brought  us  up 
out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  we  wot  not  what  is  become 
of  him  ?"  Verse  1.  With  what  holy  resentment  must 
we  execrate  the  spirit  that  could  deal  thus  perfidious- 
ly, presumptuously,  with  God  ? 

After  we  have  vented  our  anger  and  astonishment 
upon  the  conduct  of  these  vile  Israelites,  let  us  pause 
and  examine  ourselves.  Asserted  by  a  strong  hand 
and  a  strelched-out  arm  into  the  glorious  liberty  of 
the  sons  of  God,  have  we  never  reverted  in  thought,  in 
desire,  in  practice,  into  that  very  thraldom  of  sin  from 
which  the  Son  of  God  came  to  set  us  free  ?  Lying  un- 
der the  weight  of  benefits  much  more  precious,  and 
bound  by  engagements  equally  solemn  and  explicit^ 
have  we  never  swerved  from  the  path  of  duty,  never  lost 
sight  of  our  vows,  never  failed  in  our  obedience  ?  With 
so  much  clearer  and  fuller  discoveries  of  the  being,  na- 
ture and  will  of  the  one  living  and  true  God,  have  we 
feared  and  loved  him,  and  only  him  ;  have  we  never 
bowed  the  knee  to  mammon,  never  worshipped  in  the 
house  of  Rimmon,  never  kissed  the  image  of  Baal  } 
Alas,  alas  1  we  hate  and  condemn  some  sins  merely  be- 
cause they  are  not  our  own,  while  we  stand  chargeable 
in  the  sight  of  God  and  man,  with  equal  or  greater 
offences  of  a  different  kind  ;  so  blinded  as  not  to  per- 
ceive, so  self-deluded  as  not  to  feel  their  enormity. 


28S  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    III. 

Is  it  not  amazing  to  observe  on  the  part  of  Aaron 
Dio  11  lactance  against  this  horrid  proposal;  to  hear 
from  his  lips  no  remonstrance  ?  Is  it  thus  he  discharges 
his  sacred  trust  ?  Is  this  the  man  whom  Jehovah  was, 
in  the  mean  while,  designing  to  advance,  and  pro- 
moting to  the  dignity  of  the  priesthood  ?  Many  things 
have  been  alledged  in  extenuation  of  his  fault,  though 
nothing  can  amount  to  a  full  vindication  of  his  con- 
duct. Tlie  conciseness  of  the  sacred  history,  it  has 
been  said,  may  have  suppressed  some  of  the  more  fa- 
vorable circumstances,  and  exhibited  only  a  general 
view  of  th'  subject.  Some  of  the  Rabbins*  pretend 
tjjat  his  colleague  in  oitice,  Hur,  had  lately  been  mas- 
sacred in  a  popular  commotion  for  daring  to  resist 
the  prevailing  frenzy;  and  that  Aaron  complied, 
through  fear  of  similar  treatment,  after  having  thus 
deprecated  the  divine  displeasure ;  "  O  Lord,  I  look 
up  to  thee,  who  knowest  the  hearts  of  men,  and  who 
dwellest  in  the  heavens:  Thou  art  witness  that  I 
act  thus  contrary  to  my  own  will.  Lay  it  not  to  my 
charge." 

Others  explain  away  great  part  of  the  criminality, 
both  of  Aaron  and  of  the  people,  by  alledging  that  all 
they  demanded,  and  all  he  gave  them,  was  an  exter- 
nal object,  where  they  might  deposit  the  homage 
which  they  wished  to  render  to  the  Supreme  God : 
and  thus  they  interpret  the  request  of  the  people, 
"Make  us  a  sensible  object  of  divine  worship,  which 
may  always  be  before  our  eyes,  and  supply  the  place 
of  God,  when  we  sliall  be  told  of  all  the  wonders  he 
wrought  lor  us  in  Egypt."-]-  And  a  learned  prelate^ 
of  our  own  country  labors  to  prove,  that  Aaron  pre- 
sented only  a  hieroglyphic  of  the  strength  and  power 
of  the  Deity,  and  he  produces  a  kw  passages  from  an- 

*  In  Schemoth  Rabba,  Sect.  xli.  fol.    !56. 

t  R.  Juda,  in  Lib.  Cozri.   Part  1.   Sect,  xcvii.  fol.  47. 

t  Patrick,  Bishop  of  Ely.  on  Exod.  xxxji.  4.  page  635. 


LlECT.  III.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  28^ 

cient  authors  to  prove,  that  the  ox  was  an  emblem  of 
royal  and  sovereign  authority,  and  the  horns,  in 
particular,  a  common  and  well  known  emhlein  of 
strength, 

A  fourth  excuse  has  been  pleaded  in  behalf  of  Aaron, 
founded  on  the  letter  of  the  sacred  text.  He  feigned 
readiness  to  comply,  according  to  these  apologists,* 
in  ho|je  that  the  demand  of  their  golden  ornaments 
for  the  iabrication  of  the  idol,  acting  upon  their  love 
oltinery,  or  of  wealth,  might  bring  them  to  a  stand, 
and  break  their  resolution.  But  why  set  up  an  elabo- 
rate defence  for  a  man  who  stands  condemned  by  his 
own  brother^  who  had  the  best  means  of  information  ; 
and  for  one  who  him  elf  had  nothing,  or  worse  than 
nothing,  to  produce  in  his  own  behalfj  when  charged 
by  Moses  with  his  fault  ? 

Tuese  spoils  of  the  Egyptians  had  not  been  obtain- 
ed in  the  most  honorable  manner.  Israel  *' borrow- 
etl  and  paid  not  again  ;"  and  it  proves  a  dreadful  snare 
to  them.  If  they  had  not  carried  off  the  gold,  they 
might  perhaps  have  kept  clear  of  the  gods  of  Egypt. 
But  ill-gotten  wealth  never  was  and  never  can  be  a 
blessing;  and  unwarrantable  devices  sooner  or  later 
come  to  entangle  the  feet  of  those  who  use  them. 
Mark,  how  one  rapacious  domineering  passion  swal- 
lows up  many  others.  **'  Can  a  maid  forget  her  orna- 
ments, or  a  bride  her  attire  ?"  And  yet  behold  the 
daughters  of  Israel  cheerfully  sacrificing  the  darling 
einbellishments  of  their  persons  to  a  mistaken  princi- 
ple of  religion  !  If  there  be  a  passion  more  violent  tnan 
another,  it  is  the  love  of  gold  in  the  heart  of  a  Hebrew  ; 
but  we  see  one  more  violent  than  even  that,  the  deli- 
rium of  idolatrous  superstition. 

It  is  dangerous  to  liave  the  patterns  of  evil  before 
our  eyes.     We  soon  learn  to  bear   with  what  we  see 

*  August.  Tom.    IV.  Quxst.  x!.  in   Exod.    page    118:    and 
Theodoret.  Tom.  I.  in  Exod.  Qusst.  Ixvi.  page  3. 
VOL.  II.  2  O 


2W  HISTORY  0"F  MOSES-.  UICT.  IlTv- 

frequentiy  ;.  we  are  insensibly  led  to  approve  what  we 
have  learned  to  suffer  without  being  shocked  ;  and 
what  we  heartily  approve  we  are  not  tar  from  adopt- 
ing. Israel  has  sustained  greater  injuries  in  Egypt 
than  we  are  at  first  aware  of,  and  they  have  been  more 
deeply  hurt  in  their  nunda  tlian  in  their  persons.  The 
.>tripe5  of  an  Egyptian  task-master  are  healed  by  the 
lenient  hand  of  time  :  but  the  wounds  inflicted  by  the 
impure  rites  of  Egyptian  idols,  are  still  festering  at 
the  heart,  and  threaten  death. 

Aaron  is  too  eager  and  intent  upon  his  shameful 
work,  tcy  escape  the  suspicion  of  being  hearty  in  it. 
"  And  he  received  them  at  their  hand,  and  fashioned 
it  with  a  graving  tool,  after  he  had  made  it  a  molten 
calf:  and  they  said.  These  be  thy  gods,  O  Israel,  which 
brought  tliee  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,"  Verse  4. 
All  that  industry,  all  that  art  could  do,  is  employed  to 
confer  lustre  and  value  on  this  worthless  object ;,  and 
yet  he  would  have  it  believed^  when  he  is  called  to  ac- 
count, that  the  form  and  fashion  of  the  idol  was  the 
effect  of  accident,  not  of  design  ::  "  I  cast  it  into  the 
fire,  and  there  came  out  this  calf,"  Veise  24.  What 
a  pitiiul  figure  does  ingenious,  industrious  wickedness 
make,  when  it  stands  exposed,  convicted,  self-condem- 
ned !  But  the  framing  and  erecting  of  this  idol  is  not 
the  whole  extent  of  Aaron's  criminality.  I  am  stilF 
more  shocked  at  beholding  an  attempt  to  blend  witb 
its  profane  worship,  the  sacred  day,  the  sacred  ceremo- 
nies and  services  of  the  true  God.  "  And  when  Aaron^ 
saw  it,  he  built  an  altar  before  it ;  and  Aaron  made  a 
proclamation,  and  said.  To-morrow  is  a  feast  to  the 
Lord,"  Verse  .5.  What  concord  hath  Christ  with  Be- 
lial ?  An  attempt  to  form  such  an  union  as  this,  is  more 
grossly  insulting  than  even  avowed  neglect  or  opposi- 
tion. It  freezes  the  blood  to  observe  a  repetition  of 
the  same  august  ceremonies  which  were  lately  employ- 
ed in  the  mount,  for  contirming  the  grand  alliance  be- 
tween the   great  Jehovali  and  bis  people,  in  the  set-^ 


LILCT.    in,  HISTORY  OF  TMOSES.  29t 

lliug  of  this  strange  league  between  Israel  and  a  bauble 
of  their  owii  invention.  "They  rose  up  early,"  as 
men  intent  upon  their  purpose  ;  tlje  altar  is  reared, 
the  sacrifice  is  otiered  up,  the  peace-offering  is  provi- 
ded, the  feast  of  friendship  is  prepared  and  eaten. 
"  They  olfered  burnt-otferings  ;  and  brought  peace- 
offerings  i  and  the  people  sat  down  to  eat  and  to  drink, 
and  rose  up  to  play,"  Verse  6.  These  last  words  are 
supposed  by  some  commentators  of  note  to  be  des- 
criptive of  a  scene  of  extreme  lewdness  and  debauchery. 
And  certain  it  is,  that  one  of  the  principal  instruments 
of  propagating  and  supporting  idolatry,  was  the  attrac- 
tion of  beauty  and  wantonness,  vilely  prostituted  to 
decoy  strangers  into  the  homage  of  the  impure  and 
worthless  deity  of  the  place.  That  people  must  be  in  a 
dreadful  state  indeed,  among  whom  religion,  the  foun- 
dation of  good  morals,  the  guard  of  virtue,  is  em- 
ployed as  a  minister  to  unhallowed  ^pleasure,  and  a 
hand-maid  to  vice. 

The  prevalence  of  evil  practices  is  a  lamentable 
thing,  but  the  establishment  of  wrong  principles  is 
much  worse.  The  wholesomest  stream  may  be  acci- 
dentally tainted  and  polluted,  and  work  itself  pure 
again  ;  but  if  the  fountain  be  poisonous,  nothing  but 
death  can  flow  from  it.  ^*  When  lust  hath  conceived^ 
it  bringeth  forth  sin  ;  and  sin,  when  it  is  finished, 
bringeth  forth  death,"  James  i.  15. 

...We  are  now  conveyed  from  this  awful  scene  of 
pollution  in  the  valley,  to  a  much  n>ore  awful  scene  of 
meditated  vengeance  on  the  mount.  While  Moses 
was  solacing  himself  in  the  pleasing  prospect  of  being 
soon  dispatched  to  the  people  of  his  charge  with  mes- 
sages of  love  ;  while  he  was  rejoicing  in  the  important 
transaction  so  lately  past,  confident  that  all  was  now 
settled  between  God  and  his  people;  the  joy  of  this 
exalted  communication  is  suddenly  interrupted  by  intel- 
ligence of  a  new,  unprovoked  and  unexpected  revolt. 
^  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Go,  get  Ihec  down  - 


292  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    III. 

for  thy  people  which  thou  broiightest  out  of  the  land 
of  Egypt,  have  corrupted  themselves.  They  have 
turned  aside  quickly  out  of  tlie  way  which  I  com- 
maiTded  them :  tliey  have  made  them  a  molten  callj 
and  have  worshipped  it,  and  have  sacrificed  tliereunto, 
ani  said.  These  be  the  gods,  O  Lsiael,  winch  have 
brought  thee  up  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,"  Veises  7> 
8.  An  otTcuded  God  refuses  any  longer  to  acknow- 
Jedge  a>  his,  a  generation  of  wretches  who  had  render- 
ed themselves  so  entirely  unworthy  of  liis  slightest  re- 
gard. Justice  awakes  to  a  recapitulation  of  the  bene- 
iits  which  they  had  received  and  the  oflences  which 
they  had  committed,  and  concludes  with  a  resolution 
totally  to  consume  them.  "  It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall 
into  the  hands  of  the  living  God." 

In  the  dialogue  which  passed  upon  this  occasion, 
some  of  the  most  interesting  objects  that  can  be  con- 
templated present  themselves  to  our  view.  The  con- 
descension of  divine  friendship  :  As  God  would  not 
*'  hide  from  Abraham  the  thing  which  he  was  about  to 
do;"  would  take  no  step  towards  the  destruction  of 
Sodom  till  that  friend  of  God  bad  been  fully  heard  in 
its  behalf;  and  could  do  nothing  till  Lot  was  departed  j 
so  the  same  God,  rich  in  mercy,  will  not  arise  to 
vengeance  against  Israel,  till  Moses  has  been  consulted 
and  has  acquiesced  in  the  sentence.  O  the  wonderful 
power  of  fiaith  and  prayer !  Moses  is  represented  as 
possessing  a  constraining  power  over  omnipotence, 
the  anger  cf  Jehovah  refuses  to  burn  till  his  permission 
is  obtained.  O  the  wonderful  grace  and  condescen- 
sion of  the  most  High  God  I  Thus  is  justice  ever  tem- 
pered with  mercy  :  "  It  is  of  the  Lord's  mercies  that 
we  are  not  consumed,  because  ins  compassions  lail 
Dot,"  Lam.  iii.  22. 

A  proposal  is  made  to  Moses,  (and  what  is  too 
hard  for  the  Lord  to  perform  ?)  v\  hich  a  selfish  heart 
would  eagerly  have  grasped  at ;  "I  will  make  of  thee, 
gays   God,  a   great  nation."     But  selfishness  in  this 


l/ECT.  III.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  293 

truly  great  man  was  controlled  by  much  nobler  and 
more  generous  princi|.les  ;  zeal  for  the  honor  of  God, 
and  compassion  for  a  devoted  people. 

The  intercessory  add.essof  Moses  is  a  master  piece 
of  eloquence,  and  discovers  a  soul  superior  to  all  re- 
gards, but  such  as  are  worthy  of  a  prophet,  a  hero,  a 
patriot,  and,  what  is  superior  to  all,  the  friend  of  God. 
"  And  Moses  besought  the  Lord  his  God,  and  said. 
Lord  why  doth  thy  wrath  wax  hot  against  thy  people, 
which  thou  liast  brought  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Eg\  pt, 
with  great  power  and  with  a  mighty  hand.  Wherefore 
should  the  Egyptians  speak,  and  say,  For  mischief 
did  he  bring  them  out,  to  slay  them  in  the  mountains, 
and  to  consume  them  from  the  face  of  the  earth  ^  Turn 
from  thy  fierce  wrath,  and  repent  of  this  evil  against 
thy  people.  Remember  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Lsrael 
thy  servants,  to  whom  thou  suarestby  thine  own  self, 
and  saidst  unto  them,  I  will  multiply  your  seed  as  the 
stars  of  heaven,  and  all  this  land  that  I  have  spoken  of 
will  I  give  unto  your  seed,  and  they  shall  inherit  it 
forever,"  Verses  11. ..13.  The  holy  man  of  God  is 
concerned  not  only  that  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth 
should  do  right,  but  that  the  divine  conduct  should 
stand  vindicated  in  the  eyes  of  the  heathen.  He  pro- 
poses to  himself  the  same  end  which  Jehovah  himself 
basin  view  in  all  that  hedoes...ihe  glory  of  his  great 
name.  He  nobly  prefers  the  fulfilling  of  the  ancient 
covenant  with  his  venerable  ancestors,  Abraham,  Isaac 
and  Jacob,  to  the  establishment  of  a  new  covenant 
with  himself  and  his  seed.  He  is  willing  to  decrease, 
willing  that  his  family  continue  obscure,  ihat  his  head 
be  laid  low,  provided  the  Lord  be  magnified,  and 
Israel  saved.  This  is  a  greatn;^ss  of  mind  which  reli- 
gion alone  could  inspire.  Like  a  true  son  of  Israel, 
he  wrestles  and  makes  supplication  ;  and  as  a  prince 
he  too  has  power  with  God,  and  prevails,  if  not  to 
prevent  every  expression  of  displeasure,  at  least  1o 
prevent  the  execution  of  the  general  doom,     llaving 


SO'i  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    III. 

obtained  this  great  point,  he  descends  with  haste  from 
the  mount,  bearing  in  his  hand  the  most  precious  work 
of  art  that  skill  ever  executed.  Who  does  not  shud- 
Hiler  at  the  thought  of  its  having  been  destroyed  ? 
*'  And  Moses  turned  and  went  down  from  the  mount, 
and  the  two  tables  of  the  testimony  were  m  his  hand  : 
the  tables  were  written  on  both  their  sides ;  on  the  one 
side  and  on  the  other  were  they  written.  And  the  ta- 
bles were  the  work  of  God,  and  the  writing  was  the 
writing  of  God,  graven  upon  the  tables,"  Verses  15, 
16.  But  why  should  we  regret  that  a  piece  of  curious 
workmanship  in  dumb  matter,  was  destroyed  ?  That 
loss  soon  might  be  and  soon  was  repaired.  Alas  !  we 
behold  a  more  shocking  spectacle  every  day. ..a  race  of 
thoughtless  wretches  deliberately,  presumptuously  de- 
facuig  God's  image,  destroying  his  signature,  engraved 
"  not  on  tables  of  stone,  but  on  the  tleshly  tables  of 
the  heart ;"  inflicting  on  themselves  a  loss  never  to  be 
repaired,  not  in  a  fit  of  holy  zeal,  but  in  a  paroxysm 
of  diabolical  frenzy. 

Moses  might  destroy  the  tablets,  but  the  spirit  of 
the  writing  he  could  not  disannul.  When  all  sensible 
monuments  are  dissolved,  the  law  maintains  its  ada- 
mantine solidity,  its  uncontaminated  purity,  its  un- 
piiant  steadiness,  its  unbending  dignity.  The  tablets 
were  written  on  both  sides,  within  and  without.  Every 
fragment  therefore  had  some  part  of  the  law  and  tes- 
timony written  upon  it.  Thus,  in  every  particle  of 
the  human  frame,  there  are  self-evident  traces  of  the 
fniger  of  God. ..the  understanding,  the  heart,  the 
conscience,  the  memory ;  shivers  indeed,  mutilated, 
defaced,  but  capable  of  being  repaired  and  united. 

But  1  find  it  impossible  to  collect  into  one  efficient 
point  of  view  the  sequel  of  this  eventful  history,  within 
the  limits  of  one  discourse.  Here  therefore  we  set 
up  another  resting  place,  and  from  it  take  a  cursory 
view  of  the  ground  over  which  we  liave  travelled. 

I.  What  a  melancholy  view  presents  itself,  of  the 


lECT.  111.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  295 

corruption,  the  degeneracy  and  degradation  of  human 
nature.  Behold  a  people  lost  to  every  noble,  gene- 
rous, manly  principle  :  restrainetl  by  no  law,  awed  by 
no  tlireatening,  susceptible  of  no  endearment,  influ- 
enced by  neither  shame  nor  gratitude  ;  boldly  overleap- 
ing the  bounds  of  reason  and  religion. ..and  in  that 
people  behold  "  the  carnal  mind,  which  is  enmity 
agamst  God  :  which  is  not  subject  to  the  law  of  God, 
neither  indeed  can  be."  Behold  "the  wickedness  of 
man,  how  great  it  is  in  the  earth  ;  and  every  imagina- 
tion of  the  thoughts  of  his  heart,  how  it  is  only  evil, 
continually."  Think  not,  however,  O  man,  that 
thou  art  surveying  a  distant  prospect,  or  travelling 
through  a  foreign  land.  Think  not  that  these  Israe- 
lites are  sinners  above  all  the  men  of  the  earth.  When 
thou  hast  thoroughly  searched  and  known  thyself,  no 
account  of  human  frailty  will  appear  exaggerated. 
They  frv^med  and  worshipped  a  golden  image.  How 
many  myriads  hourly  bend  the  knee  to  the  same  idol, 
changed  only  a  little  in  form  !  See  the  temple  of  mam- 
mon, how  it  is  crowded.  His  votaries,  see  how  mucl> 
in  earnest  they  are  in  their  devotions.  Early  and  late 
the  incense  ascends.  Neither  Jewish  nor  Christian 
sabbath  mterrupts  tljcir  attendance  or  cools  their  ar- 
dor; while  truth,  and  justice,  and  mercy,  and  tha 
love  of  God  are  offered  a  perpetual  sacrifice  to  the  in- 
satiate demon,  who  never  says,  "It  is  enough."  Nor 
think  that  gold  is  the  only  deity  which  men  adore. 
On  searching  into  thy  own  bosom,  some  lurking  imp, 
of  different  form,  complexion  and  texture  will  be 
found;  hid  in  close  disguise,  unknown  indeed  of  men; 
but  to  the  eye  of  God  and  conscience  clearly  confes- 
sed. Down  with  it ;  it  is  thy  dishonor,  and  threatens 
thy  ruin. 

II.  Rejoice  with  trembling,  while  you  contemplate 
the  affecting  prospect  which  opens  of  the  severity  and 
mercy  of  the  great  God... the  severity,  which  by  the 
band  of  Levi  cut  off  three  thousand  of  the  offenders,. 


^gd  HISTORt"  OF  xMOSES.  lECT.  un 

in  the  heat  of  their  offence;  which  threatened  to  ex- 
terminate the  whole  race,  and  which,  in  "the  day  of 
visitation,  visited  their  sin  upon  them". ..the  mercy 
which  relented,  which  pitied  and  sj)ared  the  guiJly, 
which  hstened  to  the  voice  of  interceshion,  and  accept- 
ed the  atonement,  Tiiou  thyself,  O  sinner,  art  a  mo- 
nument of  both  the  one  and  the  other.  Thy  lite  is 
forfeited  to  justice;  thou  art  daily  enduring  the  pun- 
ishment of  thy  transgressions;  thou  standest  eontniu- 
ally  exposed  to  severer  ills  than  any  thou  hast  yet  felt, 
and  fa,  beyond  what  fear  itself  can  figure.  Yet  mer- 
cy suffers  thee  to  live;  there  is  hope  concerning  the^e: 
the  glad  tidinns  of  salvation  are  in  thine  ears;  "  Be- 
liold  the  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the 
world  !"  "  Behold  now  is  the  accepted  time,  behold  now 
is  the  day  of  salvation!"  "Wherefore,  let  my  counsel 
be  acceptable  unto  thee,  and  brake  off  thy  sins  by 
righteousness,  and  thine  iniquities  by  shewing  mercy 
to  the  poor :  it  may  be"  more  than  "  a  lengthening 
of  thy  tranquility,*'  it  may  prevent  eternal  misery. 

III.  Behold  a  greater  man  than  Moses  is  here...aii 
Intercessor  more  compassionate,  more  earnest,  more 
powerful :  '*  a  Prince  with  God"  who  ever  prevails  ;  a 
propitiation  ever  meritorious  and'  successful  :  "  blood 
that  cleanselh  from  all  sin."  "  W  any  man  sin,  we 
have  an  Advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the 
righteous  ;  and  he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins  :  and 
not  for  ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole 
world,"  1  John  ii,  1,2.  "  Who  in  the  days  of  his 
flesh,  when  he  had  <!ffered  up  prayers  and  supplications, 
with  strong  crying  and  tears,  unto  him  that  was  able  to 
save  him  from  death,  and  u  as  heard  in  that  he  feared- 
Though  he  were  a  Son,  yet  learned  he  obedience  by 
the  things  which  he  suffered  :  and  being  made  perfect, 
he  became  the  author  of  eternal  salvation  unto  all  them 
that  obey  him,"  Heb.  v.  7,  9-  "  Therefore  we  ought 
to  give  the  more  earnest  heed  to  the  things  which  we 
have  heard,  lest  ut  any  time  we  should  let  them  slip. 


LIZCT.    HI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  297 

For  if  the  word  spoken  by  angels  was  steadfast,  and 
every  transgression  and  disobedience  received  a  just 
recompence  of  reward  ;  how  sliail  we  escape  if  we  neg- 
lect so  great  salvation,  which  at  the  first  began  to  be 
spoken  by  tlie  Lord,  and  was  confirmed  unto  us  by 
them  tliat  heard  him  r"  Heb.  ii.  1,  2,  3. 

IV.  Let  us  look  forward  to  "  that  great  and  nota- 
ble day  of  the  Lord,"  when  the  law  which  was  deliv- 
ered audibly  from  Sinai,  which  Moses  with  a  rash,  in- 
considerate hand  could  break  in  pieces,  but  was  una- 
ble to  repair,  shall  be  restored  in  all  its  purity  and  per- 
fection i  shall  be  engraved  on  every  heart,  and  become 
legible  to  every  eye :  when  the  hidden  glory  of  the  le- 
gal dispensation  shall  be  unvailed,  and  die  greater 
glory  of  the  gospel  displayed  :  when  the  divine  image 
shall  be  again  impressed  on  the  soul  of  man,  in  all  its 
beauty  and  exactness... and,  we  ourselves,  degraded 
and  lost  as  we  are,  shall  "  be  raised  together,  and 
made  to  sit  together  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus" 
...and  "  beholding  with  open  face  as  in  a  glass,  the 
glory  of  the  Lord,  shall  be  changed  into  the  same 
image,  from  glory  to  glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of 
the  Lord."  "  Beloved,  now  are  we  the  .sons of  God, 
and  it  doth  not  yet  appear,  what  we  shall  be  :  but  we 
know,  that  when  he  shall  appear,  we  shall  be  hke  him, 
for  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is." 


VOL.  n,  g  f 


=X3K 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  IV. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  w/icn  Moses  zvent  out  unto  the  ta- 
bernacle, that  all  the  people  rose  up,  and  stood  every 
man  at  his  tent-door,  and  looked  after  Aloses,  until 
he  zvas gone  info  (he  tabernacle.  And  it  came  to  pass, 
as  Moses  entered  into  the  tabernacle,  the  cloudy  pil- 
lar descended  and  stood  at  the  door  of  the  tabernacle, 
and  the  Lord  talked  icilh  Moses.  And  all  the  peo- 
ple saiv  Ike  cloudy  pillar  stand  at  the  tabernacle  door  : 
and  all  the  people  rose  vp  and  worshippsd,  every  man 
in  his  tent  door.  And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses 
face  to  Jace,  as  a  man  speaketli  unto  his  friend.... 
Exodus  xxxiii.  IS...  11. 

GUILT  is  the  parent  of  fear  and  suspicion  ;  con- 
scious innocence  and  integrity  inspire  confidence 
and  tranquilliiy.  "  The  wicked  flee  when  no  maa 
pursueth  :  but  the  righteous  are  bold  as  a  Jion," 
Prov.  xxviii.  1,  Adam  and  his  wife  hid  themselves 
from  the  presence  ol  tlje  Lord  Gdd,  amongst  the  trees 
<jf"  the  garden,"  Gen.  lii.  8.  Moses  ascends  undaunt- 
ed fo  meet  the  Lord,  in;o  the  midst  of  tempest  and 
liie.  Behold  tlie  height  of  heaven,  how  great  it  is  ! 
What  so  distant  as  the  Creator  and  a  fiallen  creature! 
13ut  lo,  the  distance  is  done  away  ;  and  what  is  so  inti- 
mately near  as  a  God  reconciled,  and  a  fallen  creature 
restored !  Jehovah  descending  in  mercy  and  grace  ;  the 
soul  arising,  upborne  on  the  wings  oMaith  and  love,miist 
meet  and  unite,  whether  on  the  mount  or  in  the  ta- 
bernacle i  in  the  temple  or  the  closet.     "  The  secret 


LECT.  IV.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  299 

of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that  fear  him  :  and  he  will 
shew  them  his  covenant,"  Psal.  xxv.  14.  We  have 
heard  of  Abraham,  who  \vas  called  tlie  friend  of  God  ; 
and  we  be.iold  a  communication  of  the  .same  distin- 
giii.shed  honor,  ti)  that  illustrious  son  of  Abraham  who 
has  instructed  and  blessed  mankind  by  transmitting 
the  history  o^  this  sacied  liiendsliip  to  the  laiest  gene- 
rations of  the  world.  We  see  it  still  expressed  in  the 
same  manner ;  on  the  part  of  Muses  by  humble  sub- 
mission, holy  zeal  and  importunity,  and  child-like 
freedom  and  conlidence  :  on  the  part  of  God,  by  the 
most  unreserved  communication  of  his  mtention.s, 
the  most  endearing  expressions  of  altection  and  good 
will. 

The  history  delivered  in  the  preceding  chapter  of 
this  book  exhibited  the  blessed  communion  on  the 
mount,  suddenly  interrupted^  by  the  dreadful  scene  of 
madness  and  rebellion  in  the  plain  beneath.  Behold 
all  Israel  eating  and  drinking,  dancing  and  playing, 
before  a  dumb  idol,  the  similitude  of  a  brute  beast. 
Behold  "  a  covenant  with  hell"  ratified  by  the  same 
dread  solemnities  which  had  been  so  recently  employed, 
to  join  a  great  nation  in  alliance  with  the  God  of  hea- 
ven. The  law  which  the  plastic  hand  of  Omnipotence 
had  impressed  on  the  soul  of  man  in  its  \evy  con- 
stitution ;  the  law  which  he  lately  had  condescended 
distinctly  to  pronounce  in  the  trembling  ears  of  all 
Israel ;  that  law  he  had  still  farther  condescended, 
with  exquisite  art  and  skill,  by  his  own  finger,  to  en- 
grave on  two  tablets  of  stone,  for  perpetual  preserva- 
tion. Moses  desending  in  haste,  with  this  precious 
record  in  his  hand,  perceives  at  a  distance  the  disorder 
Avhich  raged  in  the  camp,  and  in  a  transport  of  indig- 
nation, dashes  the  tablets  on  the  ground,  and  breaks 
them  in  pieces.  The  motive  was  good  and  commend- 
able, but  the  action  was  rash  and  presumptuous.  We 
find,  however,  no  expression  of  anger  against  that 
rashness ;  the  frailty  is  lost  and  overlooked  in  appro- 


S06  HISTORY  OP  MOSES.  LECT.    IV. 

bation  of  the  principle  which  led  to  it.  But  had  not 
Moses  punishment  sufficient  for  his  hasty  conduct,  in 
the  irreparable  loss  occasioned  by  it,  to  himself  and 
to  the  world  }  There  was  no  occasion  to  chide  him  ; 
his  own  conscience  must  have  siniiten  him  sufficiently, 
as  often  as  he  retlected  on  what,  in  the  moment  of  im- 
patience he  had  done. 

Without  infficting  a  positive  chastisement,  a  righ- 
teous God  can  easily  reprove  men  by  making  them  to 
feel  the  native  consequences  of  their  own  tolly,  and 
of  all  the  infirmities  to  which  our  nature  is  subject, 
anger  most  certainly  and  most  severely  punishes  itself 

The  man  who  is  thus  animated  with  zeal  for  the  glo- 
ry of  God,  has  forgotten  what  fear  is.  Aart>n,  under 
the  influence  of  the  fear  of  man,  yielded  to  the  popu- 
jar  frenzy,  and  fabricated  the  golden  calf;  Moses,  in- 
spired with  the  tear  of  God,  defies  and  despises  the 
multitude,  consumes  their  idol  in  the  fire,  and  grinds  it 
to  powder.  This  is  that  Moses  of  whom  they  talked 
so  contemptuously  a  little  while  ago.  What,  not  one 
of  the  thousands  of  Israel  who  worshipped  the  image 
of  the  beast  bold  enough  to  protect  his  Dagon  !  No  : 
abashed  they  stand,  and  feel  "  how  awful  goodness  is, 
and  see  virtue  in  her  own  shape  how  lovely." 

A  most  remarkable  circumstance  is  added  to  the  his- 
tory of  the  destruction  of  the  idol,  which  has  greatly 
exercised  the  ingenuity,  learning  and  imagination  of 
critics  and  commentators.  Moses  took  the  dust  into 
which  he  had  pounded  the  calf,  and  *'  strawed  it  upon 
the  water,  and  made  the  children  of  Israel  drink  of  it," 
Verse  20.  This  seems  nothing  more  than  an  expres- 
sion of  sovereign  contempt,  poured  upon  amost  worth- 
less object  :  and  a  practical  demonstration  of  the  ab- 
surdity of  idolatry.  And  it  may,  perhaps  not  unwar- 
rantably, be  employed  as  a  reproof  of  the  inordinate- 
love  of  money,  that  root  of  all  evil.  Gold  as  an  inslni 
ment  of  commerce,  as  the  means  of  procuring  the 
things  that  are  needful  forthe  body,  as  a  natural  produc- 


LECT.  IV.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  501 

tion  possessed  of  very  singular  qualities,  may  be  lawfully 
sought  after  and  innocently  used;  butertcied  into  a 
deity^valued  on  its  own  account,  swallovvini^  up  every 
other  object,  engrossing  the  whole  heart,  becomes  un- 
profitable and  pernicious,  as  incapable  of  gratifying  the 
real  appetites  of  a  rational  being,  as  gold  in  its  simple 
state  is  incapable  of  satisfying  hunger,  or,  mingled  v\  ith 
water,  of  allaying  thirst. 

An  imagination  perpetually  on  the  stretch  to  dis- 
cover evangelical  ideas  in  every  iota  of  the  sacred  liis- 
tory,  has  perceived  the  method  of  gospel  salvation,  la 
this  passage  of  Moses  ;  as  if  the  prophet  intended  to 
signify  that  the  Messiah,  typified  by  the  water  which 
issued  from  the  rock  in  Horeb,  could  alone  purify  from 
the  guilt  of  idolatry,  and  from  all  other  sin. 

Moses  having  executed  just  vengeance  on  thei(k)l 
itself,  turns  in  holy  indignation  to  his  weak  and  guilty 
brother,  who  had  so  readilv  fallen  into  and  abetted  so 
gross  a  deviation  from  all  duty  and  decency.  "  And 
Moses  said  unto  Aaron,  What  did  this  people  unto 
thee,  that  thou  hast  brought  so  great  a  sin  upon  them  i" 
Verse 'il.  An  anticipated  instance  of  obedience  to 
the  apostolic  injunction,  *'  Then  shalt  not  sulft-r  sin 
upon  thy  brother,  but  in  any  ways  reprove  him."  Jus- 
tice on  the  tribunal,  knows  not  a  brother  in  court,  but 
examines  the  cause.  Justice,  with  the  pen  of  the  his- 
torian in  his  hand,  knows  not  blood  in  recording  facts, 
but  declares  the  truth.  Justice,  as  the  minister  of 
God,  must  stifle  the  calls  of  natural  atlection,  and  con- 
demn the  guilty.  And  here  again  Moses  becomes  a 
pattern  to  all  judges  and  magistrates,  to  every  min- 
ister of  religion,  and  every  relater  of  events.  His 
own  fault,  and  those  of  his  nearest  relations,  are  told 
with  the  same  artless  simplicil  y,  as  their  good  qualities 
and  praise- worthy  actions.  Praise  and  censure  are  dis- 
tributed, with  the  same  candor  and  miparliality,  to 
bis  own  family  and  to  strangers. 

Aaron,  formerly  an   object  of  condemnation,  now 


302  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  IV. 

sinks  into  rai  object  of  piiy ;  as  every  man  must,  in 
the  clay  when  he  is  called  lo  account,  and  has  no  de- 
fence lo  make.  "And  Aaron  said.  Let  not  thfl»anger 
of  my  lord  wax  hot:  thou  knowest  the  people  that 
they  are  bet  om  mischief.  F*)r  they  said  unto  me. 
Make  us  gods  which  shail  go  before  us  :  for  as  for  this 
Mo.ses,  the  man  that  brought  us  up  out  of  the  land 
ot  Eg}  pt,  we  wot  not  what  is  become  of  liim.  And  X 
said  unto  them,  Whosoever  hath  any  gold,  iet  them 
break  it  off.  So  they  gave  it  me  :  then  I  cast  it  into 
the  fire,  and  there  came  out  this  calf,"  Verses  2'i,  '23, 
24.  Alas,  alas  !  What  a  profusion  of  words  is  guilt 
constrained  to  employ  in  order  to  cover  what  it  cannot 
extenuate  or  excuse.  What  must  it  be  to  behold  a 
guilty  world  stand  self-condemned  before  the  Judge 
of  the  quick  and  the  dead  !  How  dreadful  must  it  be, 
to  appear  in  the  number  of  that  guilty  crowd,  without 
being  able  to  escape  unnoticed  in  the  crowd  ! 

The  scene  that  follows  is  one  of  those  from  which 
we  turn  away  our  eyes  in  anguish,  or  which  we  con- 
template in  silent  horror  and  astonishment. ..Thousands 
of  criminals  falling  at  once  by  the  hands  of  their  bre- 
thren !  The  sons  of  Levi,  destined  to  shed  the  blood 
of  many  victims,  to  make  atonement  for  the  guilty... 
called  to  the  dreadful  ministry  of  offering  up  part  of 
the  guilty  themselves,  a  sacrifice  to  justice,  to  make 
atonement  for  the  rest  !  Ma.k  how  the  courage  of 
one  man  has  roused  that  of  many.  A  whole  tribe  has 
fortitude  sufficient  to  follow  in  a  cause,  wherein  not 
one  man  was  found  daring  enough  to  profess  himself  a 
leader.  This  is  one  motive,  among  many,  to  aim  at 
being  singularly  good.  Mark  the  timidity  of  consci- 
ous guilt.  Levi  was  the  least  numerous  of  all  the 
tribes;  but  engaged  in  the  cause  of  God  and  truth, 
the  myriads  of  offending  Israelites  shrink  from  their 
attack,  or  fall  down  before  them.  Mark  how  dread- 
ful is  the  brow  of  justice  roused  to  vengeance.  "Con- 
.secrate  yourselves  to-day  to  the  Lord,  even  every  man 


tECr.  IV;  HISTORY  OP  MOSES.  303 

Upon  bis  son,  and  upon  his  brother,  that  he  may  be- 
stow upon  you  a  blessing  this  day,'*  Verse  29-  What 
a  night  of  hurror  and  remorse  nitist  have  succeeded 
a  day  of  impiety,  madness  and  slauglilei !  What  an 
awful  to-morrow,  the  day  of  reckoning,  to  follow  tLat 
dismal  night! 

But  the  case,  though  dangerous,  is  not  desperate, 
while  there  is  a  Moses  to  intercede.  Has  my  otTeuded 
Father  so  much  tendt-rness  left,  as  to  upbraid,  to  re- 
prove, to  chastise  me?  His  dispf  asure,  though  de- 
pressing, is  not  inloleiable;  but  siient  auger,  resent- 
ment that  neglects,  that  shuns,  that  leaves  me  to  my- 
self, is  a  burthen  too  heavy  for  me  to  bear.  Il  God 
vouchsafe  to  speak  to  me,  though  in  thunder;  to  an- 
swer me,  though  from  the  wliiilwind;  there  is  hope 
concerning  me.  But  if  he  say  within  him^c^if,  "Ephraim 
is  joined  to  idols,  let  him  alone,"  then  1  am  indeed 
lost  and  undoue. 

The  intercession  of  Moses,  in  behalf  of  the  people, 
now  assumes  a  tone  peculiarly  earnest  and  aff  cting. 
"And  Moses  returned  unto  the  Lord,  a4)d  said,  Oh, 
this  people  have  sinued  a  great  sm,  and  have  made 
them  gods  of  gold.  Yet  now,  if  thou  wilt  forgive 
their  sin  :  and  if  not,  blot  me,  I  pray  thee,  out  of  thy 
book  which  thou  hast  written,"  Verses  31,  32.  li  is 
hardly  credible  that,  on  this  passage,  a  system  of  piety 
has  been  built  so  refined  as  to  issue  in  absurdity  and 
contradiction.  Moses  i,b  here  supposed,  by  interpreters 
ot  a  certain  complexion,  to  express  the  utmost  readi- 
ne.'-s  to  renounce  his  eternal  salvation  lor  what  he  ap- 
prehended to  be  the  greater  glory  of  God,  and  if  it 
could  be  (he  condition  of  procuriug  salvation  to  Lsrael. 
Resignation  to  the  divine  v\  ill,  according  to  them,  is  im- 
perfect, till  a  man  can  cheerfully  aud  deliberately  preter 
his  own  everlasting  damnation  to  all  t lie  joys  of  hea- 
ven, if  the  higher  interests  of  public  good,  and  the 
glory  of  God  can  be  then  by  promoted.  This,  to  some 
visionary  minds,  may  have  a  specious  appearance  of 


304  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  IV, 

a  more  sublime  piety :  but  it  is  both  unnatural  and 
un?criptural ;  and  therefore  is  not  piety  at  all.  As  it 
is  fallen  in  my  way,  and  as  this  text  in  Moses  has  been 
connected  with  a  famous  passage  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment of  similar  import,  I  will  take  the  liberty  to  speak 
at  some  length;  and  with  much  plainness,  upon 
the  subject ;  it  being  a  principal  ol)jf  ct  in  the  plan 
of  these  Lectures,  to  unfold  and  recommend  the  reli- 
gion of  the  Bible  ;  that  is,  the  religion  of  good  sense, 
to  the  neglect  of  all  human  systems,  and  all  useless 
speculations,  which  have  not  an  obvious  foundation  in 
scripture  and  reason,  and  which  do  not  obviously  tend 
to  promote  human  virtue  and  happiness. 

Now,  we  hesitate  not  a  moment  to  affirm,  that  the 
doctrine  attempted  to  be  built  on  the  united  texts  of 
Moses  and  of  Paul,  has  not  the  foundation  of  the 
prophet  and  of  the  apostle  to  rest  upon  ;  and  that  it 
is  not  calculated  to  serve  any  one  purpose  of  religion, 
wisdom  or  virtue.  The  passage  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment alluded  to,  is  that  of  the  great  apostle  of  the 
Gentiles,  and  runs  thus,  **  For  I  could  wish  that  my- 
self were  accursed  from  Christ,  for  my  brethren,  my 
kinsmen  according  to  the  tlesh,"  Rom.  9>  3.  It  is  too 
well  known  to  need  any  proof,  that  there  are  in  every 
language,  and  among  all  nations  of  the  world,  certain 
modes  ol  expression  in  common  use,  which  it  were 
unfair  to  interpret  according  to  the  literal  import  of 
the  words,  and  which  accordingly,  if  translated  into  a 
foreign  language,  and  applied  to  the  modes  of  thought 
and  expression  used  in  a  different  age  and  countrj'-, 
might  convey  a  meaning  very  different  from  the  ori- 
ginal one,  perhaps  diametrically  opposite  to  it.  Is 
Ihere  a  man  in  his  senses,  who  will  pretend  to  assert 
that  Moses  in  the  wilderness  of  Sinai,  one  thousand 
five  hundred  and  fifty  years  before  Clirist,  affixed  the 
same  idea  to  these  words,  "  Blot  me,  I  pray  thee,  out 
of  tiiv  book  which  thou  hast  written,"    Verse  32; 


LECT.  ir.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  305 

which  a  dogmatical  maker  of  systems  in  France  or  En- 
gland in  the  eighteenth  century  thinks  proper  to  affix 
to  them  ?  Is  it  a  certain  point  that  the  apostle  Paul 
and  such  an  one,  mean  precisely  tlie  same  thing,  when 
the  former  writes  "anathema,"  and  the  latter,  in  the 
phraseology  of  his  own  language,  thinks  fit  to  render 
it  by  tlie  word  "accursed?"  In  truth,  both  expres- 
sions evidently  are  figurative,  and  can  be  fully  under- 
stood Oiily  by  appealmg  to  the  genius  of  the  original 
languages,  the  spirit  of  the  men  who  use  them,  and 
the  occasion  on  which  they  are  employed.  Moses,  in 
a  moment,  explains  what  he  understands  by  "the 
book  which  God  had  written."  For  what  saith  the 
answer  of  God  to  this  expostulation  }  "  Whosoever 
hat!)  sinned  against  me,  him  will  I  blot  out  of  my 
book,"  Verse  33.  And  what  saith  the  history  }  "  All 
that  generation  died  in  the  wilderness,"  without  being 
admitted  into  the  land  of  promise,  according  to  the 
original  destination  of  Providence,  or  as  it  was  "  writ- 
ten in  God's  book."  Follow  Moses  to  a  similar  situ- 
ation on  another  occasion,  and  see  how  he  expresses 
himself;  and  let  the  one  passage  explain  the  other. 
The  people  became  discontented  with  their  food  at 
Tabera,  and  lusted  for  the  provision  of  Egypt;  God 
was  displeased,  and  threatened  to  con^-ume  them  > 
Moses,  grieved  in  spirit,  thus  presumes  to  expostulate. 
"  And  Mobcs  said  unto  the  Lord,  Wherefore  hast  thou 
aillicted  thy  servant?  and  wherefore  have  I  not  found 
favor  in  tliy  sight,  that  thou  layest  the  burden  of  all 
this  people  upon  me  ?  Have  I  conceived  all  this  peo- 
ple ?  Have  1  begotten  them,  that  thou  shouldest  say 
unto  me.  Carry  them  in  thy  bosom,  (as  a  nursing- 
father  beareth  the  suckling  child)  unto  the  land  which 
thou  swearest  unto  their  fathers  ?  W^hence  should  I 
have  llesh  to  give  unto  all  this  people?  for  they  weep 
unto  me,  saying,  Give  us  fiesh  that  we  may  eat.  I 
am  not  able  to  bear  all  this  people  alone,  because  it 
is  too  heavy  for  me.  And  if  thou  deal  thus  with  me, 
VOL.  II,  ,  ^  q 


506  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  IV, 

kill  me,  1  pray  thee,  out  of  hand,  if  I  have  found  fa- 
vor in  tiiy  sight  j  and  let  me  not  see  my  wretchedness," 
Numb.  ix.  11. ..15.  The  expression,  "Kill  me  out  of 
hiiiid,"  is  plainly  equivalent  to  that  used  in  Exodus, 
"  Blot  me  out  of  the  book  which  thou  hast  written." 
What  tl)en  is  the  fair  meaning  and  construction  of  the 
words  of  Moses?  "Lord,  grant  the  pardon  of  this 
people  to  the  prayers  of  thy  servant ;  who  would  ra- 
ther submit  to  everlasting  misery  than  fail  to  obtain 
his  recjuest :"  Horrid,  blasphemous,  absurd  !  No,  but 
j^.ature,  piety  and  patriotism  unite  in  saying  as  he  does, 
*'  Lord,  if  thy  decree  against  this  people  may  not  be 
reversed  ;  if  justice  demand  their  utter  extermination, 
let  my  eyes  be  first  closed  hi  peace.  Subject  me  not 
to  the  cruel  mortification  of  surviving  all  my  nation, 
and  of  enduring  the  insults  and  scorn  of  our  enemies. 
Ill  mercy  take  me  first  out  of  the  world,  where  I  should 
only  lead  a  life  of  sorrow  and  regret,  heavier  than 
dcatli  itself."  The  word  anathema  used  by  the  apos- 
lle  is  of  the  same  import  with  the  Hebrew  word  "y^Pu 
They  both  denote  a  person  or  thing  devoted,  sepa- 
rated by  a  vow  or  curse,  one  excommunicated  and  se- 
parated from  society.  And  his  meaning  is  this,  "  I 
most  solemnly  protest ;  God  and  my  own  conscience 
are  my  witnesses,  tjiat  1  speak  the  truth  as  it  is  in  my 
heart  ;  the  infidelity  of  my  countrymen  after  the  flesh, 
is  a  matter  of  the  deepest  concern  and  regret  to  me ; 
to  such  a  degree,  that  if  it  could  be  the  means  of  cu- 
ring their  prejudices,  and  bringing  them  to  Christ  the 
Redeemer,  1  care  not  in  what  estimation  I  might  be 
held  in  the  church.  Let  me  cease  to  be  an  apostle, 
let  me  be  as  one  cut  off  from  the  society  of  the  liaith- 
fui,  for  some  atrocious  crime  ;  let  me  be  vile  and  con- 
temptible in  the  eyes  of  the  world  ;  let  but  the  Israel 
of  God  be  gathered  to  the  Redeemer,  and  brought 
within  the  bond  of  the  covenant  of  grace.  JNIoreover, 
Paul  does  not  directly  form  even  this  wish ;  but  con- 
ditionally, "1  could  wish,"  were  it  lawful  for  me  to 


LECT.  IV.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  307 

form  such  a  wish,  and  if  the  granting  it  could  any 
way  contribute  to  the  accomplishment  of  a  purpose  so 
desirable. 

The  sentiment,  then,  of  those  mystics,  ha^  no  war- 
rant either  in  the  language  or  in  the  spirit  of  any  of 
the  persons  whom  God  has  proposed  to  us  as  patterns 
in  scripture. 

Besides  their  being  unscriptural,  what  can  be  more 
extravagant  and  unnatural,  than  those  ranting  exfires- 
sions  of  one  oi  that  order?*  ''Though  I  were  sure  of 
being  condemned  to  hell,  I  would  not  cease  from  my 
penitential  acts,  and  from  depriving  myself  of  all  com- 
forts for  the  love  of  God.  If  1  am  to  be  cast  into  hell, 
O  my  God  stay  no  longer,  make  haste,  and  since  thou 
bast  forsaken  me,  finish  thy  work,  precipitate  me  into 
the  bottomless  pit."  Catharine  of  Sienna  thinks  fit 
to  express  herself  thus  on  the  same  subject :  '*  Though 
it  were  possible  to  feel  all  the  torments  of  devils  and 
damned  souls,  yet  should  I  never  call  them  pains,  so 
much  pleasure  would  the  pure  love  of  God  make  me 
to  find  therein."  .  These  are  evidently  the  idle  specu- 
lations of  persons  too  much  at  their  ease,  whom  one 
hour  of  exquisite  torment  would  bring  to  their  sen- 
ses, and  teach  a  sounder  divinity.  What  is  the  foun- 
dation of  our  love  to  God  ?  His  love  to  us ;  the  good 
which  he  has  done  to  us,  that  which  we  sliil  expect 
from  him.  I  feel  it  impossible  for  me  to  love  one, 
whose  interest  or  caprice  require  that  I  should  be  tor- 
mented everlastingly.  I  love  the  Lord  because  he  hath 
delivered  me  from  the  curse  of  the  law ;  because  he  hath 
saved  me  from  going  down  to  the  pit :  because  he 
"hath  raised  us  up  together,  and  made  us  sit  toge- 
ther in  heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus,"  Eph.  ii.  (i. 

Moses  by  entreaty  obtains  a  short  reprieve  for  the 
offenders  ;  but  a  plain  intimation  is  given  that  they 
should  not   pass  wholly   unpunished.     "  In   the  day 

*  Angele  de  Foligni.  Eveque  de  Meaux  Instruct.  Pastor.   Pageu 

341. 


OOS  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    IV, 

when  I  visit,  I  will  visit  their  sin  upon  them,"  Verse  34. 
The  meaning  of  this  threatening  is  fuily  ex)  lained  in 
the  sequel.  All  that  pentration  of  men  were  blotted 
out  of  the  book  of  the  living  ;  theii  carcases  fell  gradu- 
ally in  the  wilderness  :  they  were  not  {)ermitted  to  see 
the  good  land  promised  to  their  fatliers  ;  { lague  upon 
])lague  overtook  them,  till  they  were  consumed  ior 
tl)eir  idolatry  ;  of  the  worshippers  of  the  golden  calf  not 
one  ent«  red  mto  Canaan. 

Gv)d  had  hitherto  condescended  to  conduct  and  de- 
fend Israi  I,  in  that  wonderful  symbol  of  his  presence, 
the  pillar  of  cloud  and  fire.  Provoked  by  their  rebel- 
lion, their  Protector  and  Guide  withdraws  from  them, 
a  'd  they  are  left  to  pursue  their  maich,  through  |.aths 
of  iheir  (iwn  choosing.  The  adage  says,  "  Whom  God 
means  to  destroy,  he  first  inlatuaies."  Had  it  run 
more  simr)ly,  "  Whom  God  means  to  destroy,  he  first 
forsakes,"  it  had  been  juster  and  more  consonant  to  the 
tenor  of  scripture.  AVhen  Jehovah  has  withdrawn  as 
a  iiiend,  he  is  nctt  far  off  as  an  enemy.  But  what  must 
it  liave  been  to  one  who  felt  like  Mioses,  to  be  com- 
manded !o  proceed  to  the  conquest  of  Canaan,  desli- 
tule  of  the  piestnce  and  support  of  God,  the  glory 
and  the  strengtli  of  Israel?  It  was  like  sending  a  ship 
into  a  lempesluous  ocean,  \a  itlioi;t  ballast,  without  a 
mast  or . sail,  without  a  rudder  or  compass,  to  be  driven 
at  the  mercy  ofevery  blast  j  and  laid  under  the  necessi- 
ty of  sinking  in  the  mighty  deep.  Moses  apprehends 
tliC  full  extent  of  an  attempt  so  perilous,  and  deprecates. 
it  with  all  the  energy  of  supplication.  He  apprehends 
no  ill,  save  one,  that  of  being  deserted  of  God.  Pie 
trembles  at  no  foe,  but  their  best  friend  estranged. 

The  wretched  multitude  now  see  their  nakedness, 
and  are  ashamed.  In  vain  do  gold  and  jewels  attempt 
to  hide  the  deformity  of  a  soul  that  has  lost  its  inno- 
cence. They  were  not  more  eager,  the  other  day,  to 
contribute  tlieir  ornaments  to  the  formation  of  an  idc;!, 
than  thy  arc  now  to  hide  them  out  of  sight,  as  tlie  mon- 


lECT.  IV.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  50?> 

unients  of  their  dishonor.  "  What  fruit  have  they 
now  in  those  things  whereof  they  are  ashamed  ?''  A 
face  of  mourning  is  seen  over  the  whole  camp,  and  eve- 
ry face  is  cIoNied  with  despair.  Direction  is  given  to 
remove  the  taheruacle  without  the  cainp.  A  tew  who 
had  (onlinued  laitlitui,  adhere  to  that  divine  instrument 
of  protection,  and  loJI  )vv  it.  Tin-  cloudy  pillar,  whicli, 
during  the  period  of  riot,  sedition  and  revolt,  had  in 
wrath  departed,  returned  to  its  destined  residence,  the 
taberna-cle.  In  the  eyes  of  astonished  Israt^l,  Moses 
enters  midismayed  into  r  hat  mansion  of  divine  glory, 
proceeds  to  meet  God,  as  a  man  to  me' t  his  friend  ; 
renews  the  conference  in  'J:e  plain,  which  had  been 
broken  off  on  the  muiinl.  The  re^uit  is,  God  gracious- 
ly relent?,  being  mindful  of  his  covenant,  and  again  un- 
dertakes the  sate  conduct  ofhis  people,  '*  My  presence 
shall  go  with  thee,  and  I  will  give  thee  rest,"  Chap, 
xxxiii.  14,  and  all  again  is  peace.  And  thus  conclude 
the  controversies  between  disobedient  and  gainsax  ing 
children,  and  their  tender-hearted,  relenting  Father. 
He  is  not  to  be  '*  overcome  of  evil,  but  overcomes 
evil  with  good," 

But  what  is  this  I  hear  ?  Moses  soliciting  for  still 
farther  manifestations  of  the  divine  perfections  }  Who 
had  seen,  who  had  heard,  who  had  felt  and  enjoyed  so 
much  of  God  as  he  ?  And  yet  still  he  is  importunate- 
ly entreatinji,  *'  Lord,  shew  me  thy  glory."  O  my 
friends,  how  many  things  of  God  do  "  angels  still  deMie 
to  look  into  ?"  There  is  "a  breadth,  and  length,  and 
depth,  and  height,  in  the  love  ofClnist,  which  pas- 
seth  knowledge."  The  response  of  the  oracle  to  this 
request,  is  not  less  extraordinary  than  the  request  it- 
self. "  And  he  said,  I  will  make  all  my  goodness  pass 
before  thee,  and  I  will  proclaim  the  name  of  the  Lord 
before  thee;  and  will  be  gracious  to  whom  I  will  be 
gracious,  and  will  shew  mercy  on  whom  1  will  shew 
mercy.  And  he  said.  Thou  canst  not  see  my  face : 
ibi*  there  shall  no  man  see  me  and  live.     And  the  Lord 


510  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  IV. 

said,  Behold,  there  is  a  place  by  me,  and  thou  sbalt 
stand  upon  a  rock.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  while 
my  glory  passeth  by,  that  I  will  put  thee  in  a  clift  of 
the  rock;  and  will  cover  thee  with  ray  hand,  while  I 
])ass  by.  And  I  will  take  away  mine  hand,  and  thou 
shalt  see  my  back  parts:  but  my  face  shall  not  be  seen." 
Chap,  xxxiii.  19  ..23.  This  opens  a  field  of  medita- 
tion too  ample  to  be  now  entered  upon.  Let  it  be 
reserved  for  the  entire  ground  of  another  evening's  ex- 
cursion into  the  region  of  scripture:  and  let  us  con- 
template with  wonder  the  scene  which  has  just  passed 
before  our  eyes. 

...Does  the  whole  story  seem  to  any  one  incredible } 
Let  the  horrid  scene  which  this  great  metropolis  exhi- 
bited not  many  years  ago,-j'  arise  upon  this  recollection. 
Let  him  think  on  the  frenzy,  which,  like  a  mighty 
torrent,  carried  every  thing  before  it ;  which  fired 
the  city,  overawed  the  senate,  and  threatened  the  dis- 
solution of  all  regular  government.  Who  can  tell 
the  dire  effects  which  desperate  entb'.isiaym,  suddenly- 
bursting  out  and  exciting  universal  terror  and  conster- 
nation, may  produce.  Had  we  not  seen  it  with  our 
ryes,  we  could  scarcely  have  believed,  that  consequen- 
ces so  momentous  should  have  issued  from  a  source  so 
contemptible.  The  resolutions  and  operations  of  a 
lawless  multitude  are  truly  formidable.  Unopposed, 
they  rush  on  as  an  overflowing  flood  ;  resisted,  they 
melt  away  j  they  are  scattered  like  chaff  driven  by  the 
wind, 

...Observe,  O  man,  how  the  most  difTicuJt  lessons 
of  religion,  patience,  and  forbearance,  and  forgive- 
ness, are  taught  thee  by  the  example  of  the  great  Je- 
hovah himself.  Darest  thou  to  think  of  vengeance 
lor  a  petty,  a  misconceived,  and  imaginary  offence, 
when  thou  beholdest  the  most  glorious  of  all  beings, 
passing  by,  blotting  out  the  most  heinous,  the  most 
unprovoked  insults,  and  when  thou  hearest  him  pro- 
t  June,  1780. 


LECr.   IV.  HLSTORY  OF  MOSES.  311 

claimiiifr  his  name,  "  the  LORD,  the  LORD  God, 
merciful,  and  gracious,  iong-.suirering,  and  abundant 
in  goodness  and  truth;  keeping  mercy  for  thousands, 
ibrgmng  iniquity  and  transgression  and  sin  ?"  "  Dear- 
ly beloved,  avenge  not  yourselves,  but  rather  give 
place  unto  wrath :  for  it  is  written,  Vengeance  is  mine ; 
1  will  repay,  saith  the  Lord,  'rherelore  if  thine  ene- 
my hunger,  feed  him;  if  he  thnst,  give  him  drink; 
lor  in  so  doing  thou  shalt  heap  coals,  of  lire  on  his 
head,  lie  not  overcome  of  evil,  but  overcome  evil 
with  good,"  Rom.  xii.  19,  20,  21.  "I  say-unto  you, 
love  your  enemies,  bless  tneai  that  curse  you,  do  good 
to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  for  them  which  des- 
pitefully  use  you  and  persecute  yon  :  that  ye  may  be 
the  children  of  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  :  for  he 
maketh  his  sun  to  rise  on  the  evil  and  on  the  good, 
and  sendeth  rain  on  the  just  and  on  the  unjust  Matt." 
V.  44.  4-0. 

..."  Follow  on  to  know  the  Lord."  Expatiate  in 
nature's  ample  field,  and  you  will  find  profit  and  in- 
struction blended  with  delight.  Explore  the  wonders 
of  eternal  Providence,  and  you  will  see  constant  cause 
to  rejoice  in  the  thought  that  there  is  a  GOD  who 
judgeth  and  ruleth  in  the  earth.  Dive  deeper  and 
deeper  into  those  mysteries  of  grace  which  "  angels 
desire  to  look  into,"  and  break  forth  into  songs  of  joy, 
that  '•  GOD  is  love."  "  Thio  is  life  eternal,  that  they 
might  know  thee,  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ 
whom  thou  hast  sent,"  John  xvii.  3.  Now  "  we  know 
in  part,  and  we  prophecy  in  part.  But  >vhen  that 
which  is  perfect  is  come,  then  that  which  is  in  part 
shall  be  done  away,"   1  Cor.  xiii.  9,  10. 

Nature  now  presents  in  every  plant,  in  every  peb- 
ble, mysteries  that  defy  the  researches  of  the  wisest 
and  most  acute;  then  "the  way-faring  man,  though  a- 
fool,"  shall  comprehend  systems  the  vastest,  most 
complex,  most  abstruse.  Providence  now  exhibits  an 
apparent  inconsistency  and  disorder,  which  confounds 


12  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  IV. 


the  reasoning  pride  of  man  ;  then,  God  will  fully  vin- 
dicate his  ways  to  man,  obviate  every  difficulty,  re- 
solve every  doubt,  remove  every  scruple.  In  scripture 
"are  some  things  hard  to  be  understood,"  in  our  pre- 
sent state  of  ignorance  and  imperfection ;  then  the 
veil  shall  be  removed,  and  **  we  shall  see  face  to  face," 
..."then  shall  we  know  even  as  also  we  are  known." 
Then  the  promised  Spirit  of  wisdom  and  revelation 
shall  teach  us  all  things,  and  bring  all  things  to  our  re- 
membrance." Then  shall  he  "open"  our  "under- 
standing," that  we  may  "  understand  the  scriptures.'* 
"Amen,  even  so,  come  Lord  Jesus  !" 


L 


aBMBC 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 

LECTURE  V. 

And  he  said,  I  beseech  ihee,  shew  me  thy  glory. 

Exodus  xxxiii.  18. 

nnPIE  greater  progress  any  one  has  made  in  science, 
-■-  the  deeper  must  be  his  conviction  of  his  own  igno- 
rance and  imperfection  ;  and  the  higher  our  attain- 
ments in  religion,  tlie  stronger  is  the  impression  of  our 
infinite  distance  from  God.  A  little  knowledge  puf- 
fethupi  but  modesty  and  humility  are  the  constant 
attendants  on  profound  wisdom,  Tlioughtless  men 
make  light  of  the  name,  the  house,  the  day  of  God ; 
but  angels  *'  cover  their  faces  with  their  wings,"  when 
they  approach  his  awful  presence.  Human  friendship 
admits  of  freedom  and  familiarity  ;  but  while  the  great 
Jehovah  condescends  to  "dwell  with  man  upon  earth, 
even  with  him  who  is  of  a  contrite  and  humble  spirit ;" 
he  permits  us  not  to  forget,  that  he  is  "  the  high  and 
lofty  One,  that  inhabiteth  eternity,  whose  name  is 
holy."  Are  we  elevated,  as  on  eagle's  wings,  up  to 
the  eternal  throne  ?  It  is  only  that  we  may  feel  the 
hand  which  siipptirts  our  flight,  and  discern  our  own 
darkness  by  that  "  light  which  is  inaccessible  and  fuli 
of  glory."  Abraham,  the  friend  of  God,  in  the  high- 
est intimacy  of  that  honorable  character,  loses  not  for 
a  moment  the  sense  of  his  distance  and  dependence  ; 
"  Behold  now  1  have  taken  upon  me  to  speak  unto  the 
Lord,  which  am  but  dust  and  ashes,"  Gen.  xviii,  27. 
VOL.  II.  2  R 


HISTORY  OF  MOSES. 


LECT.  T» 


"  O  let  not  the  Lord  be  angry,  and  I  wiil  speak  hut 
this  cnce."  A  voice  from  heaven  reaches  Ijis  ears, 
baying,  "  Fear  not,  Abram  :  J  am  thy  shield,  and  thy 
exceeding  great  reward,"  Gen.  xv  1.  And  that  in- 
stant we  beiiuld  him  prostrate,  with  his  tece  to  the 
ground.  M-  ».'s,  the  friend  of  God,  to  whom  Jeho- 
vah rc\(-'aled  mure  of"  himself  than  to  any  other  man., 
is  stiil  but  in  tl^e  outer  court  of  the  habitation  where 
God  du  ells.  AVhat  he  knows  has  only  created  a  thirst 
for  knowledge  ;  vUiat  lie  has  se^n  has  but  inspired  an 
earnest  desne  of  seeing  more  and  more ;  and  after 
connnnn  cations  >o  ample,  and  communion  bo  sweet, 
this  is  still  his  desire,  tliis  his  request,  "  Lord,  shew  me 
thy  glory." 

.  From  the  reiterated  rebellions  and  provocalicns  of 
Lsrael,  thi>  good  has  resulted. ..New,  endearing,  en- 
couraging discoveries  liave  been  made  of  the  divine  na- 
ture, perfections  and  will.  Mankind,  to  the  latest 
general  ions,  have  been  instructed  to  revere  that  justice 
wliicli ''  u'lll  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty,"  and  to 
triumph  m  tl  at  mercy  wliich  "  forgiveth  iniquity, 
tratj^sgression  and  .sin."  The  revolt  of  the  people  ce- 
mented and  unproved  the  union  between  God  and 
their  leader. 

Joshua,  the  son  of  Nun,  who  v^as  <lestined  to  make 
so  dusln;g!(i-he(l  a  tigute,  and  to  act  a  part  so  ct)nspi- 
cuoiis  and  anportani  in  the  history  of  Israel,  is  repre- 
sented a.->  (rained  up  from  his  youth  in  the  service 
of  Moses,  and  m  (ommuidon  \Mth  God.  We  luul  him 
in  liic  mount  with  his  master  when  he  went  to  receive 
the  wntie!!  law,  wliile  tiie  muhitude  below  were  pol- 
luting tnemsvlves  uith  idols.  We  find  him  entering 
wiih  his  master  into  the  tabernacle,  when  it  was  rcT- 
moved  out  of  the  camp,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
overshadowed  it ,  and  there  he  remained,  while  Moses 
returned  to  confer  with  the  people.  Early  habits  of 
acquaintance  vviih  God,  and  employment  in  his  ser- 
vice, are  youth's  best  security  and  preservative  against 


LECT.  V.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  Slii 

sin,  and  the  surost  foundation  of  honor  and  nsefuhiess, 
of  distinction  and  comfort  in  advanced  age,  A  man 
must  be  formed  to  command  by  obcyinq;.  *'  Joshua, 
a  younii;^  man,  departed  not  out  of  the  tabernacle." 
Vt-rse  11.  Wl)at  a  severe  reproof  of  that  spirit  of 
profligacy  and  dissipation,  that  criminal  love  of  plea- 
sure and  cohlness  fo  intellectual  at;ainmenis,  that  ir- 
relit>ion  and  profanity  v\hich  chaiacterize  youtii  in 
general  ? 

It  is  pleasing  to  look  forward  to  this  good  man's  lat- 
ter end,  and  to  observe  a  career  ot  gloty  supported 
and  adorned  by  pif^ty  ;  a  \outh  of  seriousness,  fidelity 
and  usefulness,  ripening  into  ijn  advanced  lile  of  repu- 
tation and  usefulness  ;  declining  into  an  old  age  of 
tranquillity,  vigor  and  joy  ;  and  closing  in  the  well- 
grounded  hope  of  immortality.  Joshua  was  trained 
ibr  the  camp,  in  the  tabernacle  and  on  the  mount,  and 
was  prepared  to  be  the  great  general  and  statesman, 
b}  learning  first  to  be  the  humble  saint  and  faithl'ul 
minisier. 

The  characters  of  Moses  and  of  Joshua  delightful- 
ly i.lustrate  and  embellish  each  other.  Moses  knew 
from  the  beginning  that  this  young  man  was  to  be  his 
successor  in  oflice  ;  was  to  finish  the  work  which  he  had 
begun  ;  w^as  to  have  the  glory  of  conquering  Canaan, 
and  of  establishing  Israel  there,  according  to  the  pro- 
mises. An  ordinary  mind  would  have  marked  the  pro- 
gress of  this  growing  rival  with  jealousy  ;  would  have 
attempted  to  obstruct  his  advancement;  would  have 
repined  at  the  preference  given  him,  to  the  neglect  of 
his  own  family.  But  every  selfish,  every  domestic 
consideration  gives  way  to  the  rising  merits  of  Joshua, 
and  to  the  choice  and  appointment  of  Heaven.  It 
was  equally  natural,  on  the  other  hand,  for  a  young 
man  hke  Joshua,  who  knew  that  he  was  destined  to 
rule,  to  surpass  his  master,  to  reach  the  highest  sum- 
mit of  human  grandeur;  it  was  natural  lor  such  an 
one  to  become  impatient  of  authority,  to  be  weary  of 


316  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  V, 

restraint,  to  be  eager  to  bring  himself  forward,  and 
make  himself  conspicuous  :  but  the  son  of  Nun  dis- 
covers true  magnanimity  in  cheerfully  yielding  the 
bubjectiun  becoming  an  inferior ;  in  observing  Moses 
and  learning  of  him  ;  in  patiently  waiting  for  the  time 
and  manner  which  Providence  should  choose  of  exalt- 
ing him  to  honor.  Moses  treats  him,  and  speaks  of 
him,  as  of  a  favorite  son,  rising  into  eminence  and  dis- 
tinction ;  he  behaves  to  Moses  as  to  a  beloved  parent, 
crowned  with  3'ears  and  honor,  which  he  hopes  to  see 
him  long  enjoy.  These  are  lessons  not  tauglit  in  the 
school  of  the  world,  where  natural  affection,  decency 
and  discretion  are  daily  sacrificed  on  the  altar  of  pride, 
selfishness,  avarice  and  ambition. 

Moses  has,  by  importunity,  prevailed  that  the  usual 
symbol  of  the  divine  presence  should  continue  to  lead 
and  protect  Israel,  by  the  way  in  which  they  went  to 
the  promised  land.  In  answer  to  the  prayer  of  faith 
it  is  thus  promised,  *'  My  presence  shall  go  with  thee, 
and  I  will  give  thee  rest,"  Verse  14.  His  Spirit  is  now 
therefore  tranquillized  with  respect  to  the  people  of  his 
charge.  God  is  yet  again  "for  them,  and  who  can 
be  against  them  ?"  But.  his  personal  acquaintance  with 
God  seems  only  beginning.  As  if  he  had  seen  nothing 
of  the  divine  glory  in  the  bush  at  Horeb,  which  burn- 
ed, liut  was  not  consumed  .;  as  if  the  awful  glories  of 
Sinai  iKid  been  nothing  :  as  if  God  had  not  spoken  to 
Iiim  in  the  fabernacle  of  the  congregation,  face  to  face, 
*'  as  a  man  to  his  friend  ;"  he  continues  to  entreat, 
*'  Lord  shew  me  thy  glory  !"  My  friends,  if  you  can  rest 
satisfied  with  what  you  know  of  God,  it  is  a  melancholy 
proof  that  you  know  him  not.  Eternity  is  too  short, 
the  capacity  of  an  angel  too  limited,  *'  to  find  out  the 
AliTiighty  unto  perfection." 

What  a  field  of  discovery  does  the  vast  frame  of  na- 
ture present  !  Supposing,  O  man,  thy  duration  suf- 
ficiently extended,  thy  understatiding  sufficiently  en- 
larged, and  opportunity  afforded  thee,  equal  to  thy  ut- 


LECT.  V.  mSTORY  OF  MOSES.  ^17 

roost  wish,  when  rouldest  ihou  have  made  a  complete 
survey  of  the  little  globe  wherein  we  dwell  ;  when 
couidest  thou  have  explored  the  innumerable  secret 
wonders  of  the  iioary  deep  ;  when  examined  the  pre- 
cious contents  of  tlie  everlasting  hills  ;  when  discover- 
ed the  nature  and  4)roperties  uf  air  and  fire  ?  Supposing 
the  mighty  task  performed  ;  supposing  the  untried  re- 
gions of  the  air,  the  untrodden  paths  of  the  sea,  the 
deep  and  the  high  places  of  the  earth  rendered  accessi- 
ble to  thy  approach,  laid  fully  operi  to  thy  view. ..and 
]o,  the  race  of  knowledge  is  but  beginning.  Behold 
another  orb  at  hand,  presenting  a  new  world  of 
wonders  :  an  orb  possessing  an  inconceivably  greater 
extent  than  our  earth,  containing  an  infinitely  greater 
variety  of  objects,  answering  a  much  nobler  end  in  the 
scale  of  being;  and  after  that,  another;  and  another 
still,  in  endless  succession.  Suppose  the  whole  plan- 
etary system,  in  order,  to  have  passed  under  re- 
view, the  mmd  rests  not  there;  the  wonders  of  divine 
power  and  wisdom  end  not  then ;  the  soul  wings  its 
way  to  other  systems,  lighted  hy  other  suns,  and  finds 
itself  but  entering  on  the  glorious  career. 

Were  the  whole  expanse  of  nature  explored,  the 
MORAL  government  of  God  over  all  these  spheres  and 
all  that  they  contain,  expands  the  same  vast  field  afresh 
to  the  astonished  eye,  and  invites  to  a  second  excur- 
sion. When  that  is  performed,  redeeming  love,  al- 
mighty GRACE  display  the  ample  theatre  a  third  time, 
and  lead  us  by  the  iiand  through  the  **  nations  of  them 
that  are  saved,"  and  point  out  the  successive  triumphs 
of  sovereign  goodness.  As  if  it  were  possible  to  see  an 
end  of  all  this  glorious  perfection,  scripture  announces 
the  dissolution  of  all  these  things,  as  a  space  too  small 
for  the  soul  to  expatiate  in,  as  an  object  too  mean  for 
its  contemplation  ;  and  promises  a  new  and  more  glo- 
rious s^'stem  of  things,  suited  to  iis  endless  duration  and 
exalted  powers,  "  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth  wiicrein 
dwelleth  righteousness."     And  what  is  it,  even  then. 


v»lc>  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    V. 

that  men  behold  r  I'he  norks  of  God,  not  God  iiim- 
self;  the  vvriiii)":,  not  ttje  ha  id  lljal  wtifes  ;  the  palace 
that  is  inhabited,  not  the  divine  inhabitant  j  the  ema- 
raiion,  n^t  tbees.s(nce  of  his  glorv.  E\ery  ^ra- i*  us 
spirit,  then,  will  mlh  Moses  be  "  fbflowing  on  to  know 
the  Lord  ;"  stiii  and  ever  inquiring,  si  ill  and  ever  nn- 
plonng,  "  Lord,  sliew  me  tliy  ,i,d(jr\'." 

Ihe  answer  ot  God  to  this  ie<jnest  is  not  less  re- 
mai  kabie  than  the  request  itself.  Moses  prayed,  say* 
ing,  "  Lord  siiew  me  thy  glory."  Alas,  like  the  dis- 
ciple on  the  mount  of  transfiguration,  "he  knew  not 
what  lie  said.''  To  have  been  answered  according  to 
(he  letter  of  his  desire,  had  been  fatal  to  him  ;  for  what 
created  eye  can  behold  the  glorj'  of  God  and  live? 
J3iU  a  gracious  God  returns  an  answer  suitable  to  the 
condition  of  his  servant,  "  And  he  said,  1  will  make 
all  my  goodness  pass  before  thee,  and  I  will  proclaim 
the  name  of  the  Lord  before  thee  ;  and  will  be  graci- 
ous to  whom  I  will  be  gracious,  and  will  shew  mercy 
on  whom  I  will  shew  mercy,"  ^^erse  19.  Ihis  is 
the  glory  of  God  to  man,  the  riches  of  his  grace,  the 
glory  oi  his  goodness,  the  wonders  of  his  love. 

in  a  display  of  the  most  striking  imagery,  God 
points  out  to  Mosc^  what  was  weak,  ignorant  and  pre- 
.'iumptuousin  his  ])etition,  and  commends  what  is  pious, 
dutiful  and  affectionate.  *' And  he  said.  Thou  canst 
not  see  my  lace  :  for  there  shall  no  man  see  me,  and 
live.  And  the  Lord  said.  Behold,  theie  is  a  place  by 
me,  and  thou  shait  stand  upon  a  rock.  And  it  shall 
come  to  pass,  while  my  gloiy  passeth  by,  that  1  will 
]>ut  thee  in  a  clilt  of  the  rock  ;  and  1  will  cover  thee 
with  my  hand,  while  I  pass  by.  And  I  will  takeaway 
mine  hand,  and  thou  shalt  see  my  back  parts  :  but  my 
face  shall  not  be  seen,"  Verse  ^J()...'2i3.  Expressions 
})lainly  importing,  that  by  creatures  such  as  we  are, 
the  great  Jehovali  can  be  seen  and  known  only  from 
those  tokens  of  his  presence  which  he  haves  l)eh!nd 
bini.      ile  comes  upon  us,  as  it  were,  imperceptibly. 


t«CT.  V.  HISTORY  OP  MOSES.  319 

unveils  his  glory  for  a  moment,  in  liis  word,  in  his  or- 
dhiaiices,  but  his  hand  )s  upon  our  eyes.  As  he  de- 
parts, he  prrmits  us  to  iuok  up,  and  to  know,  hs  m- 
faHdjic  niaikx,  that  he  has  Ix^en  with  us.  Thu.s,  Ja- 
cob's vi>ion  ai  BcLiicd  was  over,  hdore  he  was  aware 
into  u  liat.  ^;lo.i)as  eo  ti^jaav  IjiMiaa  been  uitroduced. 
*•  Aiid  Jacob  awaked  out  ol  his  shep,  and  he  aaid, 
surely  tlie  Lord  is  in  this  place;  and  1  knew  it  not," 
GfU.  xx\iii.  i(3.  I'lius  at  1*1  niel  he  w  resiled  appa- 
rently witli  a  mil;  b  ir  ui  depart  n^^',  ins  divme  an- 
tai^oinst,  by  a  toucli,  c.-nvinced  inm  who  he  was  ;  and 
he  discovrrs,  tljat  he  had  seen  "  the  visions  of"  the 
Almighty,"  afier  he  had  withdrawn.  And  thus,  the 
glorihed  Redeemer  laiki  d  with  the  two  disciples  bv 
tne  way  as  they  went  to  Emniaus,  and  opened  untu 
them  the  scriptures,  while  tbeir  heart  burned  within 
thtm,  but  their  eyes  were  held  that  they  did  not  know 
him.  At  lengtli,  wliile  he  brake  bread  and  blessed  it, 
"their  eyes  were  opened,  and  they  knew  him."  Is 
God  in  this  place?  We  see  him  not  :  we  cannot  see 
him  and  hve  ;  but  by  this  we  shall  know  it  hereal'ier... 
Has  his  word  been  made  quick  and  powerhil  to  any 
soul  ?  Has  the  dignity  and  imi)Oitance  of  communion 
with  him  been  fell  ?  Is  a  man  depaiimg  with  a  <le<.per 
and  mure  humbling  sens  '  ot  his  own  unwoiihiness  and 
guilt ;  and  penetrated  with  a  more  lively  aj (prehension 
of  ttie  mercy  of  God  throngii  a  S  ivionr .?  Is  sin  ren- 
dered more  odious,  and  liolm^s'^  more  amiable  in  the 
eyes  of  any  one  ?  Is  the  heart  glowing  with  desire  to 
know  m<ve  of  Gv>d,  to  love  li.m  more,  and  serve  Ijim 
better?  Is  ttie  spirit  ol"  a  man  pressing  "toward  the 
mark,  f  jr  tlic  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in 
Christ  J csu.-i  ?"  Pu  II.  III.  14.  Tiien  of  a  trulii  Gofi  is 
in  this  place  ;  and  a  day  spent  thus  in  his  courts,  is 
bet'er  ttian  a  tliousand. 

B(jt  hvnv  IS  the  language  of  this  concluding  pa.ssage 
of  ihe  chafjter  leconciied  with  that  in  the  el  venth 
verse  ?  "  Tne  Lord  spake  unto  Mosses  face  to  faoe,  air 


320  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  V. 

a  man  speaketh  unto  liis  friend."  The  expression, 
*'  to  see  the  face,"  is  evidently  taken  into  two  differ- 
ent senses.  In  the  1  Ith  verse,  it  signifies  to  be  re- 
garded with  favor  or  approbation,  as  it  is  in  the  4th 
Psr.hi),  verse  6,  "  Lord,  lift  thou  up  the  Hght  of  thy 
countenance  uponns;"  that  is,  shew  thyself  gracious 
unto  us,  for  we  prize  thy  loving  kindness  far  above  every 
earthly  blessing:  but  in  the  20th  a^sd  23d  verse,  "  to 
see  the  face  of  God,"  imports  the  knowledge  of  his 
nature  or  essence,  which  to  a  creature  is  impossible. 
Here  even  a  Moses  is  in  darkness,  through  an  excess 
of  light ;  into  this  angels  desire  to  look,  but  instantly 
shrink  back,  and  shut  their  trembling  eyes.  *'  But  the 
only  begotten  Son,  which  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Fa- 
ther, he  hath  declared  him,"  John  i.  18  j  and  "  the  Word 
was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us,  (and  we  beheld  his 
glory,  the  glory  as  of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father) 
full  of  grace  and  truth,"  John  i.  14.  Such  vias  the 
care  employed  by  Him  who  knows  what  is  in  man,  to 
prevent  the  possibility  of  idolatry,  and  to  expose  the 
ibJly  of  it.  Even  Moses  shall  not  be  trusted  with 
any  thing  like  a  representation  of  Deity  ;  and  what  so 
absurd  as  to  frame  a  similitude  of  what  never  was, 
never  can  be  seen  ? 

**  The  effectual  fervent  prayer  of  a  righteous  man 
availeth  much,"  says  the  aj)0stle  James ;  and  what  a 
notable  instance  have  w?  of  the  truth  of  this  in  the 
passage  before  us  !  Moses  rises  in  his  demands,  as  he 
succeeds  by  supplicating,  and  he  still  prevails.  First, 
he  pleads  that  the  presence  of  God,  the  light  and 
glory  of  Israel,  inight  not  be  withdrawn,  as  was 
threatened,  but  might  accompany  and  lead  them  to 
their  destined  habitation.  And  lo  !  God  grants  his 
request,  with  an  assurance  of  peculiar  regard  and  af- 
fection to  himselfj  "  Thou  hast  foimd  grace  in  my 
sight,  and  I  know  thee  by  name,"  verse  17-  Upon 
this  he  presumes  to  ask  some  new,  some  special  ma- 
nifestation of  the  divine  glorj',  for  his  own  satisfaction 


LECT.  V.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES,  S21 

and  comfort.  This  too  he  obtains,  in  a  promise  that 
the  goodness  of  God,  all  his  goodness  sljould  he 
made  to  pass  before  him.  Emboldened  by  this  success, 
he  cainiot  rest  till  he  has  obtained  for  the  people  a  re- 
nll^;^l<)n  of  their  olfence.  And  he  said,  "  It  now  I  liave 
1"  und  grace  in  thy  sight,  O  Lord,  let  my  Lord,  I  pray 
thee,  go  amongst  us,  (for  it  is  a  stift-necked  people) 
and  pardon  our  iniquity  and  our  sin,  and  take  us  for 
tlnne  miieritance,"  Chap,  xxxiv.  9.  And  behold  he 
carries  tliis  point  also,  and  the  covenant  is  renewed  be- 
tween G^)d  aad  Israel.  Let  us  see  that  our  requests 
be  proper  to  be  granted,  and  we  liave  them  already, 
before  we  make  them.  Let  us  be  solicitous  to  obtain 
spiritual  blt-ssings  in  the  lirst  place,  and  the  temporal 
good  tilings  ufiich  we  prize  not,  asked  not,  may  per- 
haps come  unexpected,  unsought.  "Give  thy  ser- 
vant," said  Solomon,  *'  an  understanding  lieart,  that 
1  may  discern  between  good  and  bad."  *'  And  the 
speech  i)leased  the  Lord,  that  Solomon  had  a.sked  this 
th.ng.  And  God  sa.d  unto  liim,  Because  thou  hast 
asked  this  thin  ;,  aud  hast  not  a.iked  fur  thyself  long  life, 
neither  hast  asked  riches  for  tb}  self,  nor  hast  asked  the 
life  of  thine  enemies,  but  hast  asked  for  thyself  unciei- 
standing  to  discern  judgment :  behold,  1  have  done 
according  to  thy  words:  lo,  I  have  given  thee  a  wise 
a;i  1  an  understanding  heart,  so  that  there  was  none 
like  thee  before  thee,  neither  after  thee  shall  any  arise 
like  unto  thee.  And  I  have  also  given  thee  that  which 
thou  hast  not  asked,  both  riches  and  honor:  so  that 
there  shall  not  he  any  among  the  kings  like  unto  thee, 
ail  tiiv  days,"    1  Kings  iii.  10...  13 

To  enjoy  this  heavenly  vision  of  all  God's  goodness, 
as  it  pas.sed  b \ ,  Moses  must  again  ascend  the  mount, 
and  draw  nigh  unto  God.  He  was  going  up  as  to  meet 
a  friend  ;  but  that  almighty  friend  must  protect  him 
from  himself,  as  from  his  most  ibrmidable  enemy. 
*'  While  my  glory  passeth  by,  I  will  put  thee  in  a  clift 
of  the  rocki  and  will  cover  thee  with  my  hand,  while 
VOL.  II.  21  s 


522  lusroRr  op  moses.  lect.  v. 

I  pass  by,"  Verse  22.  An  inspired  apostle  tells  us 
tliat  "this  rock  was  Cliirst,"  1  Cor.  x.  4.  And  it 
sheds  a  pleasing  light  on  the  subjecl.  What  afforded 
safety  to  Moses  in  tiie  tremendous  hour,  when  the  glo- 
ry ot"  God  appeared  ?  A  cliit  of  that  rock  from  whence 
the  living  stri-am  issued  forth  for  the  refreshment  of 
Gjd's  heritage  when  it  was  weary,  and  wljich  was  the 
type  of  that  wonderful  "  Man'  who  is  an  hiding  {)lace 
from  the  wind,  and  a  covert  from  the  tempest  ;  as  ri- 
vers of  water  in  a  dry  place  ;  as  a  shadow  of  a  great 
rock  in  a  weary  land,"  Isaiah  xxxii.  2.  Did  Muses 
flee  thither  for  sh.'Iter,  did  he  foresee  his  dangei',  and 
provide  a  covering  lor  his  defenceless  head  ?  No  :  the 
refuge  was  of  God's;  providing.  "  1  wdl  put  thee  in  a 
clifl  of  the  rock."  Not  liuman  sagacity,  but  divine 
mercy  discovers,  and  prepares  a  retreat  for  the  mise- 
rable. Observe  the  .<olid  foundation  on  which  that 
m.;n  is  established  who  rests  on  the  word  of  God; 
"  thou  shalt  siaiid  upon  a  rock."  Remove  the  pro- 
mise ot  him  who  is  faithful,  of  him  who  is  true,  and 
we  imme<liately  sink  into  an  horrible  pit,  and  stick  fast 
in  the  miry  clay;  but  "Behold,"  says  God,  "  1  lay  in 
Zion  tor  a  foundation,  a  stone,  a  tried  stone,  a  preci- 
ous corner-stone,  a  sure  foundation  :  he  that  believeth 
shall  not  make  Ijasie,"  Isaiah  xxviii.  \Q. 

Moses  IS  now  du'ected  to  make  all  needful  prepara- 
tion for  this  important  visit.  In  his  haste  he  had 
thrown  the  two  tai)les,  which  contained  the  law  on  the 
ground,  and  had  broken  them  in  pieces  under  the 
mount:  but  no  act  of  man  can  disannul  the  law  of 
God.  The  loss,  though  great,  was  not  irreparable. 
But  God  will  not  Citirely  repair  it,  that  Moses  may 
have  somevvtiat  to  regret  in  the  etfects  of  his  impati- 
enee.  The  tonner  two  tables  were  wholly  of  God... 
the  substanc* ,  thetbim,  the  writing,  the  subject;  but 
tiie  last  muc  jiartake  of  human  ignorance  and  imper- 
fe<Mon,  The  c-ioice  of  the  stone,  and  the  hewing  it 
into  form,  are  of  Moses ;  the  writing  and  the  words 


4ECT,  V.  -HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  325* 

are  still  of  God.  And  these  were  the  tables  wliich 
were  laid  up  iii  the  ark  of  tlie  tcstiiTiony  lor  pre.se.\a- 
tion,  and  were  transmitted  to  fiostt-rity.  And  it  is 
thus  that  tlie  precious  things  of  God  are  still  conveyed 
to  men.  Tlie  casket  is  Imnian,  th<  jiuel  wuich  il  cou- 
tains  is  divine.  '*  We  have  this  treasure  in  earthen 
vessels,  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  may  be  of 
God,  and  not  of  us,"  '2  Cor.  iv.  J.  And  thus  though 
a  merciful  God  express  not  displeasure  at  our  rashness 
and  folly,  they  become  in  the  end  their  own  punish- 
ment. 

Moses  is  commanded  to  be  ready  in  the  morning. 
The  operations  of  human  state  loiter  and  linger,  and 
seek  to  acquire  importance  from  expectation  and  de- 
Jay  ;  but  the  movements  of  Deit}'  prt  vt-nt  the  dawn- 
ing, and  derive  all  their  importance  from  themselves. 
Unless  prayer  be  followed  out  by  vigor  and  exertion, 
men  pray  in  vain.  One  hour  lost  in  slumber  had  ren- 
dered ten  thousand  petitions  Iruitless  and  ineifectual : 
but  M<jses,  like  a  man  m  earnest,  like  a  man  who 
knew  the  value  of  what  he  had  so  ardently  desired,  is 
ready  betimes;  he  is  at  the  appointed  place  at  the  ap- 
pointed hour;  with  the  tablets  prepared  to  receive  the 
impress  of  God.  He  carried  them  with  him,  a  dead, 
vacant,  useless  lump  of  stone ;  he  brings  them  back 
turned  into  spirit  and  life,  clothed  with  meaning, 
speaking  to  the  eye,  to  the  heart,  to  the  conscience ; 
for  if  God  breathe  on  dry 'bones,  they  instantly  live, 
and  stand  up  a  great  army. 

If  we  can  conceive  a  situation  more  awfully  solemn 
than  another,  it  was  that  of  Moses  on  this  occasion. 
Corfsider  the  stillness  of  the  morning,  the  elevation  of 
the  mountain,  the  pleasing  gloom  ot  solitude,  the  ex- 
pected display  of  a  glory  which  he  could  not  behold 
but  as  it  departed.  Every  circumstance  is  great  and 
afl'ecting,  but  altogether  suitable  to  the  glory  that  fol- 
lowed :  lor  "  the  Lord  descended  in  the  cloud,  and 
stood  with  him  there,  and  proclaimed  the  name  of  the 


3^4  HISTORY  OF  MOSaS.  LECT.  V. 

Lord,"  Chap,  xxxiv.  5.  At  the  inauguration  of  kings 
it  is  customary  to  proclaim  tlieir  name  and  titles,  and 
to  bid  defiance  to  every  challenger  or  usurper  of  their 
riehts.  1  his  is  the  mere  pride  of  state,  tlie  mere  in- 
scjeiice  of  possession.  But  the  names  of  God  are  Lis 
nature,  pe<,uiiar  to  himself,  inapi-licable,  incommuni- 
caMe  to  any  other.  And  mark  ho  v  the  tide  of  mercy 
fluvvs  and  swells  till  it  has  overcome  every  barrier; 
from  **  the  soles  of  the  feet  to  the  ancle?,  from  the  an- 
cles to  the  knees,  till  it  becomes  a  river,  \a herein  a 
man  may  swim;"  and  from  an  o 'erflowing  river  con- 
verted into  a  boundless  ocean,  vuthont  bottom,  with- 
out shore.  •'  The  LORD,  the  LORD  God,  merci- 
ful and  gracious,  long-snliering,  and  abundant  in  good- 
ness and  truth;  keeping  mercy  for  thousands,  forgiv- 
ing iniquity,  and  transgression  and  sin,"  Chap,  xxxiv. 
6.  7-  Wijile  justice  is  confined  in  one  steady,  deep, 
awtul  stream,  threatening  destruction  only  to  the  im- 
ptnitent  and  unbelieving;  expressed  in  these  awful 
"words,  "and  that  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty." 
This  was  the  commencement  of  an  interview  "  which 
histed  forty  days  and  forty  nights,"  and  which  con- 
tained a  repetition  of  the  instructions  formerly  given 
respecting  the  tabernacle  and  its  service.  But  this 
merits  a  separate  and  distinct  consideration  ;  as  like- 
wise does  the  alteration  of  the  external  appearance  of 
Moses,  on  coming  down  from  the  mount  ;  of  which  we 
mean  to  discourse  next  Lord's  day.  **  Moses  wist  not 
that  the  skin  of  his  face  shone,  while  he  talked  with 
him.  And  when  Aaron  and  all  the  children  of  ImhoI 
saw  Moses,  behold,  the  skin  of  his  face  shone,  and  they 
were  alraid  to  come  nigh  him,"  Chap,  xxxiv.  i29,  SO. 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  VI. 

And  it  came  to  pass  when  Moses  came  down  from  Mount 
Sinai  (zvitli  the  two  tables  of  testimony  in  Aioses'' 
hand,  when  he  came  down  from  the  mount)  that  Mo- 
ses wist  Tiot  that  the  sh'n  of  his  Jace  shone,  x<hile  he 
talked  with  him.  Andiclien  Aaron  and  all  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  saiv  Moses,  behotd,  the  skin  of  his  Jace 
shone,    and   thei/  tcej-e  ajraid  to  come  nigh   him.... 

ExODUs  XXXI V.  "l^,  30. 

« 

'THHE  sun,  the  great  light  ofthe  natural  world,  com- 
-*-  municates  to  all  bodies  a  portion  of  his  own  splen- 
dor, and  thereby  confers  upon  tliem  whatever  lustre 
they  possess.  In  his  absence,  all  things  assume  the 
same  dismal  sable  line.  The  verdure  of  the  meadow  j 
the  varied  glory  of  the  garden  ;  the  brightness  of  the 
moon's  resplendent  orb  ;  the  sweet  attractions  of"  the 
human  face  divine,"  pronouce  in  so  many  ditferent 
forms  of  expresson,  "  Tiie  light  offender  celestial 
globe  has  arisen  upon  me :  If  I  have  any  beauty  or 
loveliness,  with  him  it  comes,  and  with  him  it  departs," 
The  whole  order  and  system  of  nature  is  designed  to 
be  a  constant  witness  to  the  G'd  of  grace..."  the  true 
light  which  enlighteneth  every  man  that  cometh  info 
the  world."  U  there  be  in  aniiels  any  beaut v  of 
holiness,  any  fervor  of  love,  any  elevation  of  wisdom, 
any  excellenry  wf  strength  ;  if  there  be  in  man  any 
bowels  of  mercie?,  any  kindness  of  atlection,  any  geu- 


326  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    Vl^ 

tleness  of  spirit,  auv  t  ndv  armr-nt.  of  cbari* y,  any  himi- 
bK-n:\ss  ot"  uiin'i,  ai)y  aieekness,  j.'aiience,  I  ng-Miti(  r- 
ino-,  it  isaglorv  je;it:'ctt;d  froiii  "the  Father  of  lighis.'' 
I(  neither  exists  nor  cau  bf^  seen,  but  as -t  is  stipplied 
and  discovereci  by  tlie  ete-'ual  Source  ci  hght  and  joy. 
Say  to  tliat  tulij),  at  the  gloomy  solstice  ot  the  year, 
or  at  the  dusky  iindni^ht  hour,  "  Array  thyst  If  in  all 
Iboae  beautiful  nuts  of  thine  wherewith  thou  charujest 
the  eye  of  every  beholder  ;"it  hears  thee  not,  it  ex- 
hibits no  color  but  one.  But  with  the  return  of  the 
vernal  breeze,  and  the  genial  influence  of  the  sun,  and 
flie  moment  the  dawning  has  arisen  upon  it,  unbidden,, 
unobserved,  it  puts  on  its  beautiful  garments,  and 
stands  instantly  clothed  in  all  the  freshness  of  the 
spring.  Why  is  that  face  clouded  with  sorrow,  why 
groveis  that  spirit  in  the  dust,  why  lacks  that  heart  the 
giovv  of  benevolence,  the  meltings  of  sympathy  ?  The 
genial  current  of  the  soul  is  frozen  up,  it  is  the  dreary 
winter  season  of  grace.  The  sun,  the  sun  of  righteous- 
ness has  w  ithdrau  n  ;  but,  Jo,  after  a  little  while,  the 
winter  is  past,  cheerful  spring  returns,  the  voice  of  joj' 
and  gladness  is  iieard,  "  Arise,  shine,  for  thy  light  is 
come,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is  risen  upon  thee," 
Isaiah  ix.  1. 

We  naturally  assume  the  tone  of  those  with  whora 
we  frecjuently  converse,  and  whom  we  dearly  love. 
*'  He  who  walketh  with  wise  men  shall  become  wise  ; 
])Ut  the  companion  of  fools  shall  be  destroyed."  At 
the  social,  friendly  banquet,  the  eye  spaikles  with  de- 
light, the  heart  expands,  the  brow  is  smoothed,  the 
tongue  is  inspired  by  tlie  iavv  of  kindness  ;  every  look 
is  the  reception  or  communication  of  pleasure.  In 
the  house  of  mourning,  we  speedily  Iccl  ourselves  in 
unison  v\ith  the  afflicted  ;  our  eyes  stand  corrected, 
our  words  are  few,  our  heads  droop.  In  the  cell  of 
r.ulancholy;  the  blood  runs  cold,  llie  features  relax, 
our  powers  of  thought  and  reflect  ion  are  suspended, 
with  those  of  the  moping  wretches  vviiose  misery   we 


LECT.   Vr.     •  HIS  rORY  OP  MOSES.  s<^27 

deplore.  AVhat  uoncK  r  then  if  Mosps  descending 
from  llie  moiait,  aifer  Ibiiy  days  laiiuiiar  in!erc(Hirse 
with"  the  Lord  God,  mercilul  aud  ,uir^(  ioiis,"  harl  not 
the  appearance  of  an  oainiary  man  ;  that  \u^  had  ac- 
qiiM' <l  a  lu>(je  not  Ins  onn!  "Ilr  was  iliere  uith 
tnc  Lord  forty  days  and  (.riy  n:.i;hts  ;  hi-  did  neither 
eat  bread  norcJnnk  uaier,"  Chap  .\xxiv.  ^"8. 

What  a    Md)lnne  idea  d-.>es    this  s!i!,^ei,t  of  commu- 
nion with  God  !   What  creaied  e!iio>m.-nt  has  nut  U>^t 
i!s   rehsh  in  a  muclj  shorter   space!   What  powers  of 
nnasMsted    natuif   could  hn^e  so   long  isnstained    the 
v\  ant  of  aliment !   No  on<-  lhi,tgina  more  hunuliatino- 
manner  teachts   us  oir  fraih'y  a.i<i   dependence,   than 
the  constant   necesM?y  of  recu!  ring  to  the  grosser  (ele- 
ments i'vr  sni;purt.     Man,  tlie  I  id  oftliis  lower  world, 
must  with  the  subject    tribe-,  and    m  a  much  greater 
proportion  than  many  of  them,  pass   a  \ei\  couMeltr- 
able  portion  of  liis  exislence  in  a  slate  of  nnconst;ious- 
ness  and  insensibility    dnriijg   ihc    hours  ot   sleep  ;  he 
must   purchase  with  the  su>pensi(m  if  his  reason,   da- 
ring a  third  part  of  his  being,  the  exercise  of  it  ou.iog 
the  other  two.     Tne  happiness  of  an  nnmoitai    being 
is,  oftener  than  once  in    a  day,  subj.  cteel  to  a  In  Me 
bread    that    perisheth  ^    the   spirit,    liouever   wdlmg, 
quickly  feels  the  oppressive  weigijt  ot  a  boely  frail  and 
intirm.     But  behold  the  triumph  of  the  spirit  over  the 
flesh  ;  or  rather,  the  power  and  grace  e»f  God,  which, 
vouchsahngin  general  to  employ' means,  call  upon  us 
diligently   to  use  them  ;  but  which  sometimes  negkct- 
mg  these  and  conveying  mime-diate    supplies  anefsup- 
port,  lead  us  at  once  to  Hmi  '*  who  worketh  all  thin^^s 
after  the  coim.>ei  of  his  own  will."  ^ 

Moses  descends,  not  with  imf)aired,  but  with  re- 
cruited strength  ;  strength,  which,  to  the  end  of  lite, 
never  more  abated  :  not  with  a  sunk,  darkened,  extin- 
guished eye  ;  but  an  eye,  which,  having  seen  God, 
never  afterwards  bt^came  dim  :  not  wvh  a  visage  pale 
and   emaciated  from  a  tast  of  forty  days;  bufwith  a 


328  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VI. 

countenance  that  dazzled  the  eyes  of  every  beholder. 
What  a  glorious  creature  is  the  friend  of  Gofi  !  "  Lo, 
O  Lord,  they  that  are  tar  from  thee  shall  pmish,  but 
ii  is  good  ibr  me  to  draw  niijh  unto  God."  Wjien 
Mo^.es  descended  before,  he  was  clothed  m  just  resent- 
ment and  displtasure;  he  came  a  niinisier  of  venge- 
ance, and  all  Israel  trembled  as  he  howned  ;  he  now 
returns  witli  the  covenant  ren^.ved,  the  tables  oi  ihe 
lavv  restored,  a  messenger  of  peace,  and  \et  the  lus- 
tre of  his  app'earance  is  intolerable.  V/iiat  must  the 
great  JEllOVAH  be  in  his  own  glory,  when  reilt-ct- 
ed,  im|>arted  glory. ..glory  communicated  to  a  crea- 
ture, thus  intuuidaies  and  assonishts!  How  dieadiul 
the  glory  of  wrath  and  fiery  indiination,  when  the 
glory  of  infinite  goodness  we  are  not  able  steadlastly 
to  behold  !  , 

Moses  descended  the  fust  time,  with  the  tables  in 
their  orig'nai  stale,  altogether  of  God  ;  and  in  his 
haste  lie  eliaced  and  destroyed  them:  but  we  read  ol 
no  attempt  to  collect  the  scattered  frai;ments,and  to  re- 
unite them.  Superstition  might  have  n^ade  an  im- 
proper use  of  what  could  not  be  distinctly  re<id,  and, 
of  consequence,  but  partially  understood;  and  tiue 
piety  will  seek  some  surer  lule  of  laifh  and  c<'nduct, 
some  more  powerful  assistant  in  devotion  than  the  scat- 
tered shivers  of  even  a  sappliire  from  the  throne  of 
God.  It  has  been  woelully  demonstrated  to  be  an 
easy  matter  to  mar  the  work  of  God.  Adam  defaced 
the  divine  image  in  his  own  [jerson,  by  one  wilhii  trai.s- 
gression.  Aloses  cancelled  the  hand  writing  of  ordi- 
nances, in  one  rash  moment  :  and  e\eiy  tlioughtiess 
transgressor  is  pulling  down,  in  his  own  person,  a  ia- 
biic  ot'  God's  rearing.  But  all  the  powers  of  nature 
nnite<],  are  incapable  of  lebuiiding  that  tenipie,  oi  re- 
newing that  w ruing,  of  restoiing  lliat  image.  He 
who  in  trie  b(  gimnng  "  conrmanded  light  to  shine  out 
of  daikne.'-s,"  idone  can  reh  ni.ne  the  extinguished  life 
ot  God  in  the  soul.     The   hand  which  at  lust  created 


LECT.  VI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  329 

man  out  of  '*  the  dust  of  the  ground,"  alone  can  form 
of  the  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins,  *'  a  new  creature  in 
Christ  Jesus  unto  good  works."  And  what  was  alter- 
wards  la.d  upui  the  holy  [jlace,  and  preserved  while 
the  tabernacle  remained  ?  Not  that  which  came  pure 
and  perfect  from  tlie  hands  of  the  Creator,  but  that 
which  God,  by  an  act  of  grace  and  the  intervention  of 
a  Mediator,  recovered.  Thus  '*  the  general  assembly 
and  church  of  the  fjist-born  written  in  heaven,"  is  not 
composed  of  men  that  never '*  left  tlieir  iirst  estate,'* 
but  of  "just  men  made  perfect;"  not  of  creatures 
like  Adam,  in  a  state  of  innocence,  but  of  creatures 
redeemed  by  the  blood  of  tliC  Son  of  God  ;  '*  justilied 
by  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus,"  and  sanctifi- 
ed by  the  Spirit  of  the  living  God.  Let  us  not,  then,  re- 
gret the  loss  of  an  earthly  paradise,  nor  the  destruction 
of  the  image  of  a  changeable,  though  perfect  creature, 
while,  through  grace,  we  may  regain  the  paradise  of 
God,  and  be  fashioned  in  body  and  spirit  like  unto  our 
glorious  Redeemer. 

Moses  has  acquired  a  glory,  on  the  mount,  which 
he  is  not  conscious  of.  "  He  wist  not  that  the  skin  of 
his  face  shone,  while  he  talked  with  him,"  verse  ;29. 
The  choicest  of  God's  gifts,  and  humility  is  one  of  the 
most  precious,  come  not  with  observation,  announce 
not  their  approach,  are  not  first  visible  to  tlje  posses- 
sor. But  it  is  impossible  to  converse  much  with  God, 
without  appearing  more  glorious  in  the  eyes  of  men. 
Has  a  man  been  in  the  mount  with  God  ?  He  needeth 
not  to  sound  a  trumpet  before  him,  to  proclaim  from 
whence  he  has  come  ;  he  has  but  to  shew  himself,  and 
the  evidence  of  it  will  appear.  That  man  has  been  in 
the  mount  with  God.  What  are  the  signs  of  it  ?  Is 
he  ostentatious,  self  sufficient .?  Is  he  eager  to  talk  of 
]iis  attainments,  to  exhibit  the  shinmg  of  his  lace,  to 
abash  and  confound  a  less  favored  brother  ?  He  is  not 
like  Moses,  he  has  not  been  with  the  God  of  Moses, 
his  pretensions  are  vain.     That  man  has  been  io  the 

VOL.  n.  2  T 


$Si:)  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VK,. 

mount  with  God.  How  does  it  appear  ?  Is  he  gloo* 
my  and  sullen,  harsh  and  uncharitable  ?  Is  his  tunjjue 
tilled  with  anathemas  r  Flashes  his  eye  destruction  on 
mankind  ?  Me  is  a  liar  and  an  impostor,  believe  him 
not;  he  is  not  come  down  from  the  God  of  the  law^ 
ii'om  the  God  of  the  gospel,. from  the  relenting  Father 
of  I^srael,  from  the  compassionate  Father  of  the  hu- 
man race  :  No :  he  has  been  conversing  with,  he  has 
ascended  from  the  malignant  enemy  of  God  and 
man  :   by  his  spirit  you  may  know  who  he  is. 

Pretenders  are  at  as  much  pains  to  display  the  lus- 
tre of  their  outside,  as  Moses  was  to  conceal  bis.  By 
this  then  you  shall  try  and  know  yourselves,  and  form 
your  judgment  of  others.  Does  a  man  issue  forth  from 
ii\s  closet,  return  from  the  temple,  retire  from  the  Lord's 
table,  with  his  temper  sweetened,  his  heart  enlarged, 
with  the  law  of  kindness  on  his  tongue,  with  the  tear 
of  compassion,  or  the  lustre  of  benevolence  in  his  eye  F 
is  he,  like  Moses,  more  attentive  to  the  condition, 
necessities  and  instruction  of  others,  than  earnest  to 
blaze  abroad  his  own  excellencies,  in  order  to  obtain 
reputation  for  himself.?  How  gloriously  does  such 
an  one  shine  in  the  eyes  of  men  :  but  that  is  nothing, 
hov/  gloriously  does  he  shine  in  the  eyes  of  God  I  And 
that  is  true  glory  which  God  sees  to  be  such. 

*'  The  face  of  Moses  shone  and  they  were  afraid  to 
come  nigh  him,"  Verse  30.  Of  What  importance  is 
it  to  inquire,  at  what  particular  moment,  and  through 
w'uat  peculiar  medium,  this  singular  appearance  was 
produced  ?  Is  it  not  sufficient  for  me,  that  I  see  the 
fruit  hastening  to  its  maturity,  though  the  commence- 
ment and  progress  of  vegetation  escape  me  .?  I  look 
lip  and  "beliOid  the  face  of  the  sun,"  and  draw  com- 
fort from  his. beams,  though  the  discriminating  instant 
of  darkness  and  the  dawning  was  too  fine  for  my  per- 
ception. Let  me  be  able  to  sa}',  with  the  man  restored 
to  sight,  *'  One  thing  I  know,  that  whereas  I  was 
blind,  now  I  see,"  John  ix.  25. ..and  I  shall  leave  to 


:LECT.  VI.  HISTORY  OP  MOSES.  551 

Others  a  minute  inquiry  into  the  process  of  the  cure. 
Shew  me  a  man  shining  in  the  beauty  of  holiness  ;  a 
man  really  clianged  in  lieart  and  in  life,  and  I  will  not 
trouble  hini  to  tell  me,  vviiai  perhaps  he  does  not  know, 
Jtnd  therefore  cannot  declare. ..at  what  place,  by  means 
of  what  preacher,  or  by  what  dis[)ensation  of  Piovi- 
dence,  tlie  important  change  passed  upon  him. 

A  truly  good  man  is  among  the  first  to  discover,  to 
acknowledge  and  to  correct  his  own  errors  and  imper- 
fections; but  humility  spreads  the  veil  which  conceals 
his  good  qualities  fust  over  his  own  eyes,  and  is  among 
the  last  to  discern  the  splendor  which  confounds  others. 
What  a  powerful  charm  is  there  in  undissembled 
goodness,  when  the  wicked  themselves  are  constrain- 
ed to  venerate  and  to  approve  it,  even  while  it  con- 
demns them. 

Besides  the  instance  in  the  text,  scripture  has  furnish- 
ed us  with  at  least  another,  and  a  most  illustrious  one  in 
the  history  of  Stephen,  the  first  martyr  to  Christianity, 
after  its  divine  Author.  An  enraged  multitude,  blood- 
thirsty accusers  and  a  partial  tribunal  ieel  themselves 
awed  into  a  temporary  reverence;  their  fury  stands  %us- 
pended  while  they  behold  him.  "  All  that  sat  in 
the  council,  looking  steadfastly  on  him,  saw  his  face  as 
it  had  been  the  lace  of  an  angel,"  Acts  vi,  K5.  But 
there  is  a  greater  than  even  this  upon  record.  The  band 
which  broke  into  the  garden,  with  their  officers,  under 
the  commission  of  the  chief  priests,  and  headed  by  the 
traitor,  to  apprehend  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  were  so  struck 
with  an  inexpressible  something  in  his  presence  and  ad- 
dress, "  that  they  went  backward  and  fell  to  the 
ground,"  John  xviii.  6. 

But  what  made  Israel  to  shrink  from  the  presence  of 
their  gracious  leader,  intercessor  and  friend  ?  What 
could  render  the  presence  of  his  alRctionate  brotlier 
formidable  to  Aaron  ?  That  which  drove  the  fust  trans- 
gressor to  "  hide  himself  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord 
'God."  It  is  conscience  that  makes  cowards  of  all  men^ 


HISTORY  OF  MOSBS,  LECT.    VIo 

it  is  conscience  that  converts  the  rustling  of  a  leaf,  the 
shaking  of  a  buhush,  into  a  spectre  from  the  grave, 
or  a  flaming  minister  from  heaven  to  execute  venge- 
ance. Under  the  awful  terrors  of  divine  glory,  they 
had  lately  entreated,  saying,  "  Let  Moses  speak  to  us, 
and  we  will  hear  i"  but  now,  even  the  look  of  Moses, 
though  he  say  nothing,  is  too  much  for  a  guilty  peo= 
pie  to  bear.  Alas,  how  little  do  men  rt  fleet,  when  en- 
gaged in  criminal  pursuits,  that  the  pleasures  of  sin  in 
which  they  riot,  are  one  day  to  become  hidden  ghosts 
to  disturb  then-  repose,  to  scare  the  imagination,  to 
harrow  up  the  soul,  to  accuse  them  at  the  tribunal  of 
God,  to  be  their  tormentors  forever. 

Moses,  conscious  of  good  will  to  all,  exulting  in  the 
thought  of  having  procured  pardon  and  reconciliation 
for  them,  but  uncon&cious  of  the  chiinge  which  had 
passed  upon  his  own  person,  observes  with  concern 
and  surprise  that  every  one  avoided  him.  At  length 
he  discovers  the  brightness  of  his  own  countenance 
reflected  from  their  guilty,  blushing  foreheads;  and 
by  words  of  kindness  encourages  them  to  return, 
whom  the  terror  of  his  looks  had  dismayed  and  put 
to  thght.  We  then  find  him,  with  the  condescension 
of  true  goodness,  accommodating  himself  to  the  circi.m- 
stances  of  the  people  v\hom  he  was  appointed  to  in- 
struct. Ifitercouise  with  Heaven  has  raised  him  to  a 
higher  pitch  of  exaliation  ;  guilt  and  fear  have  dt  grad- 
ed them :  but  love  levels  the  mountains,  and  fills  up 
the  valiies  of  separation.  The  interposition  of  a  veil 
reduces  him  to  their  standard,  because  the  confidence 
of  innocence  raised  them  not  to  his.  The  law  of  God 
must  be  taught  to  the  people  though  the  teacher  is  be- 
come more  glorious.  This  is  a  plain  and  striking  les- 
son to  all  who  undertake  to  instruct  others.  It  is  a 
wretched  ambition  merely  to  shine.  The  great  aim  of 
3  teacher  should  be  to  communicate  knowledge  ;  and 
he  shews  himself  to  be  possessed  of  most,  who  knov\s 
best  how  to  convey  it  to  others.      He  is  the  truly  rich 


1£CT.  VI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSEfl.  33$ 

man,  \\ho,  by  the  proper  use  of  his  wealth,  assists  in 
making  jiiaiiy  rich  ;  not  he  who  pi».s,-esses  a  vast  hoard 
which  he  knows  not  how  to  enjoy;  nor  he  who  nuikes  an 
osTenratiousdispIay  of  ricljes,  merely  to  insult  liis  poorer 
neignbor.  And  he  who  speaks  three  words  in  a  known 
language,  to  the  edification  of  the  hear^^r,  has  more 
real  learning  than  tlie  babbler  of  ten  thousand,  in  a  lan- 
guage which  no  one  understands. 

"  Till  he  liad  donf^  speaking,"  then,  "  Moses  put  a 
veil  on  his  fac -,"  Verse  33;  so  that  the  sound  of  his 
voice  niignt  be  heard,  while  the  terrifying  lustre  of  his 
face  was  obscured.  But  this  was  not  merely  an  inci- 
dental circumstance,  arising  out  of  the  occasion,  and 
done  away  with  it;  but  was  designed,  in  providence, 
to  be  a  symbolical  representation  of  the  whole  Mosaic 
dispensation;  which  was  nothing  else  but  the  gospel 
under  a  veil.  That  this  is  nut  a  lanciful  conjeciuie,  we 
appeal  to  the  great  apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  who  has 
removed  the  veil,  and  discovered  the  liidden  glory 
which  lies  under  it,  and  thus  writes,  "Not  that  zce," 
meaning  tlje  apostles  of  the  Lord  Jesus  under  the  New 
Testament,  "  not  that  we  are  sutficient  of  oniselve* 
to  think  any  thing  as  of  ourselves  :  but  our  sufficiency 
is  ol  God.  Who  also  hath  made  us  able  ministers  of 
the  New  Testament,  not  of  the  letter,  but  of  the  spi- 
rit :  lor  tiie  letter  killeth,  but  the  spirit  givetli  life.  But 
if  the  ministration  of  death,  written  and  en,.:;raven  m 
stones,  was  glorious,  so  that  the  children  of  Israel 
could  not  stedfastly  behold  the  face  of  Moses,  for  the 
glory  of  his  countenance,  which  glory  was  to  be  done 
away,  how  shall  not  the  ministration  of  the  spirit  be 
rather  glorious?  For  if  the  ministration  of  condemnation 
be  glory,  much  more  doth  the  ministration  of  riglite- 
ousness  exceed  in  glory.  For  even  that  which  was 
made  glorious,  had  no  glory  in  this  respect,  by  reason 
of  the  glory  that  excelleth.  For  if  that  which  is  done 
away  was  glorious,  much  more  that  which  remaineth  is 
glorious.  Seeing  then  that  we  have  such  hopes,  we 
use  great  plainness  of  speech.     And  not  as  Moses. 


334  HKTORY  OF  M03ES.  LECT.  VI. 

which  put  a  veil  over  his  face,  that  the  children  of 
Israel  could  not  stedfastly  look  to  the  end  of  that 
which  is  abolished.  But  their  minds  were  blinded ;  for 
until  this  day  remaineth  the  same  veil  untaken  away, 
in  the  reading  of  the  Old  Testament ;  which  veil  is 
done  away  in  Christ.  But  even  unto  this  day  when 
Moses  is  read,  the  ved  is  upon  the  heart.  Neverthe- 
less, when  it  shall  turn  to  the  Lord,  the  veil  shall  be 
taken  away,"  2  Cor.   iii.  5...16. 

From  the  days  of  Moses  down  to  those  of  Paul,  and 
by  Paul  himself,  in  the  days  of  his  ignorance,  Moses 
was  heard  and  read  with  the  veil  over  his  face;  was 
understood  in  the  letter,  not  in  the  spirit ;  and  even 
iifter  the  veil  was  done  away  in  Christ,  who  is  '*  the  end 
of  the  law  for  righteousness  ;"  after  the  types  were 
explained,  the  predictions  accomplished,  and  the  gieat 
|>rophet  of  the  Jews  had  brought  all  his  glory,  and  laid 
it  at  the  feet  of  the  great  Apostle  and  High  Priest  of 
our  profession,  still  the  people  who  had  the  best  means 
of  information,  who  had  the  power  of  comparmg  spirit- 
ual things  with  spiritual,  read  them,  and  continue  to 
read  them  to  this  day,  under  the  power  of  passion  and 
prejudice.  And  he  who  sees  in  Moses,  and  the  other 
writings  of  the  Old  Testiment,  nothing  but  the  histo- 
ries of  certain  events  long  since  past,  and  confined  in 
their  operation  and  eifect  to  a  particular  district ;  noth- 
ing but  the  religious  usages  and  ceremonies  practised 
by  a  particular  people,  that  man  looks  with  a  bandage 
upon  his  eyes,  understands  not  what  he  reads,  and 
therefore  cannot  profit. 

There  is  a  gracious  intimation  in  the  passage  we 
have  just  now  quoted,  that  a  period  is  approaching 
when  Israel  too  shall  turn  unto  the  Lord  ;  when  the 
veil  shall  be  taken  away,  and  Moses  in  wh(  m  they 
trusted,  shall  be  seen  without  a  covering  ;  and  "  if  the 
casting  away  of  them  be  the  reconciling  of  the  world, 
what  shall  the  receiving  of  them  bt^  but  life  from  tlie 
dead  ?"  Rom.  xi.  15. 


LECT.  VI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES-  33S 

Wliat  gloiious  \ievvs  ofGo.!,  of  Lis  providence,  ofhis 
grace,  dues  the  i^ospel  disclose  !  The  Gentile  nations 
bcliold  their  admission  into  the  family  ol  God,  and  their 
pnvilfge.s,  as  his  children,  in  llie  promises  which  were 
made  to  Abraham  and  his  seed.  And  the  Jews  will 
in  time  discover  the  intention  and  design  of  their  polit- 
ical and  rehgious  establishment,  in  the  nature,  duration 
and  extent  of  the  Redeemer's  kins^dom  :  when  Israel 
also  shall  he  saved  ;  as  it  is  written,  "  There  shall  come 
out  of  Sioii  the  Deliverer,  and  shall  turn  away  ungod- 
liness from  Jacob,"  Rom.  xi.  26. 

Human  Irailty  rendered  the  interposition  of  a  veil 
necessary  between  Moses  and  the  people  ;  because, 
"  they  could  not.  look  stedfastly  to  the  end  of  that 
which  is  abolished  ;"  but  when  Moses  w(  nt  into  the 
tabernacle,  to  converse  with  God,  a  veil  to  cover  his 
face  being  unnecessary,  it  was  laid  aside. 

It  is  natural  to  hold  out  our  most  favorable  appear- 
ance to  men,  to  catch  at  their  good  opinion,  to  secure 
theif  approbation  ;  but  we  see  in  Moses  a  mind  intent 
only  upon  usefulness.  He  jy  fully  gives  up  a  little 
fame,ibr  the  sake  of  doing  much  good.  If  the  churcli 
of  God  be  enlightened,  what  is  it  to  him  that  he  him- 
self is  a  little  obscured  ?  His  lustre  is  to  illuminate  Is- 
rael. Vain  glory  always  defieats  the  purpose  which  it 
had  formed  ;  humility  as  certainly  gains  the  point  at 
which  it  aimed  not.  Who  does  not  esteem  Moses, 
mo. lestly  shrouded  in  a  veil,  infinitely  more  than  all  the 
loquacious  boasters  and  exhibitors  of  themselves  that 
ever  existed  ^  Moses,  in  talking  with  the  people,  em- 
ployed a  veil,  not  as  a  mask  to  insinuate  a  liaise  idea  of 
what  he  was  not,  but  to  conceal  the  real  excellency 
which  he  had  ;  unlike  the  hypocrisy  and  disguise  of  the 
world  ;  and,  to  use  disguise  with  God  he  knew  would 
be  impious,  profane  atad  unavailing.  We  find  him 
changing  liis  appearance,  as  the  occasion  required. 
This  was  not,  in  him,  versatility  and  address,  a  cun- 
ning accommodation  to  circumstances  for  selfish  ends^ 


,3S6  HISTORY  or  MOSiS.  LECT.  VI. 

but  the  compliance  of  wisdom  and  necessity,  in  order 
to  be  more  extensively  useful  Thus  Paul  *'  became  all 
things  to  all  men,  that  he  might  gain  some."  And, 
for  the  same  reason,  a  greater  than  Moses,  a  greater 
than  Paul,  disdained  not  the  festivity  of  a  marriage 
solemnity  ;  refused  not  the  invitation  of  one  ruler,  nor 
rejected  the  visit  of  another;  abhorred  not  to  eat  with 
publicans  and  sinners,  if  by  any  means  the  ignorant 
might  be  instructed,  the  proud  and  srliish  checked  and 
reproved,  the  modest  encouraged,  and  the  mourner 
comforted. 

At  the  first  descent  of  Moses  from  the  mount,  we  see 
the  glory  of  a  man  zealous  for  God  :  at  his  second,  the 
glory  of  a  man  owned  and  'onored  of  God;  "  the  skin 
of  his  lace  shining."  But  at  his  appearance  many  days 
afterwards  on  labor,  we  behold  a  saint  from  the  world 
of  bliss,  altogether  glorious.  Such  is  the  blessed  effect 
of  being  with  God  and  "  seeing  him  as  he  is,"  not  for 
forry  days  only,  but  during  a  series  of  ages.  And  what 
must  it  then  be,  to  **  be  ever  with  the  Lord,"  to  gloriiy 
God,  and  to  be  glorified  of  him  "  in  body  and  spirit 
which  are  the  Lord's  ?"  And  why  was  Moses  again  ex- 
hibited on  the  mount  of  transfiguration  ?  Wherefore 
again  displayed  in  glory  ?  Again  to  put  a  veil  upon  his 
face,  to  empty  himself,  and  to  deposit  his  glory  at  the 
feet  of  Him  in  whose  light  and  likeness  he  shone. ..To 
talk  with  Jesus  **  concerning  the  decease  he  should  ac- 
complish at  Jerusalem." 

The  Jewish  Rabbins  pretend  to  account  for  the  un- 
abated vigor,  the  unfading  lustre  of  the  latter  years  of 
the  life  of  Moses,  from  t{)ese  very  circumstances.  The 
eye,  say  they,  which  had  endured  the  sight  of  God, 
could  not  become  dim:  the  natural  strength  which  sup- 
ported a  fast  of  forty  days,  could  not  sink  under  any 
future  decay. 

...Christian,  consider  Moses,  the  man  of  God,  in- 
vested with  lustre  which  dazzled  tlie  eye  of  every  be- 
holder, and  which  length  of  time  could  not  impair,  and 
reflect,  to  i.vhat  a  glory  coaununion  with  God  can  raise 


LECT.  VI.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  337 

a  fallen  creature;  ami  aspire  after  a  partici|)ation  of 
that  grace  which  adorned  him.  The  glory  of  his  per- 
son was  a  rare  and  .singular  attainment ,  but  that  of  his 
spirit  may  be  imitated  and  attained  by  all.  His  piety, 
resignation  and  obedience ;  his  meekness,  gentleness 
and  compassion,  present  amiable  patterns,  and  they 
are  the  ornaments  suited  to  your  present  state.  It  is 
given  but  to  a  favored  i'ew  to  exhibit  heroic  virtue,  to 
perform  splendid  actions,  to  acquire  extensive  reputa- 
tion ;  but  none  is  excluded  from  the  honor  of  simple 
modest  worth,  of  habitual  beneficence,  of  honest  lame. 
And  those  are  the  most  valuable  and  solid  acquisitions, 
which  "  are  in  the  sight  of  God  of  great  price." 

...Steady  and  persevering  intercourse  with  Pleaveu 
will  iiitalliby  transform  the  whole  man  into  the  image 
of  God.  The  very  exterior  will  be  meliorated»and  im- 
proved, and  the  world  itself  will  "  take  knowledge"  of 
the  disc![)le  who  "  has  been  with  Jesus."  Tkie  exer- 
cises of  the  closet  will  be  seen  and  felt  in  the  serenity 
of  the  countenance,  the  kindness  of  the  eye,  the  me- 
lody of  the  voice,  the  affability  and  graciousness  of  the 
whole  deportment.  "  Let  your  light  so  shine  before 
men,  that  they  may  see  your  good  works,  and  glorify 
your  Father  which  is  in  heaven,"  Matt.  v.  J 6. 

...The  time  is  at  hand  when  the  glory  which  irradi- 
ated the  face  of  Moses  shall  be  imparted  to  the  whole 
company  of  tlie  redeemed  ;  when  the  name  of  God 
and  fhe  Lamb  shall  shine  in  every  forehead.  Behold, 
and  wonder,  behold,  and  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glorv 
of  God,  "  A  woman  clothed  with  the  sun,  and  the 
moon  under  her  feet,  and  upon  her  head  a  crown  of 
twelve  stars,"  Rev.  xii.  1.  "  They  that  be  wise,  shall 
shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament,  and  they  that 
tiirn  many  to  righteousness,  as  the  stars  for  ever  and 
ever,"  Daniel  xii.  3.  "  The  Lord  God  is  a  sun  and 
shield  :  the  Lord  will  give  grace  and  glory :  no  good 
thing  will  he  withhold  from  them  that  walk  uprightly," 
Psalm  Ixxxiv,  1 1. 

VOL.  II.  2  X 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  VII. 

ikcording  to  all  that  the  Lord  commanded  Moses,  so 
the  children  of  Israel  made  all  the  ivork.  And  Mo- 
ses did  look  upon  all  the  zvork,  and  behold,  they  had 
done  it  as  the  Lord  had  commanded,  even  so  had  the], 
done  it :  And   Moses   blessed  them... .E.xod\js  xxx'ix. 


IF  reason  were  to  maintain  its  full  dominion  in  man, 
were  tirie  senses  perpetiiaily  under  the  control  of  the 
mind,  a  motive  to  religion  would  be  continually  sup- 
plied from  the  natural  impulse  of  a  grateful  and  aflec- 
tionate  heart.  The  vast  universe  would  become  one 
great  temple;  every  pebble,  every  plant,  every  star 
would  be  a  witness  for  God  ;  and  the  heaven-born  spi- 
rit would  arise  on  the  wing  of  every  bird,  of  every 
breeze  of  air,  to  its  glorious  Author.  But  man,  de- 
graded by  sin,  blinded  by  passion,  involved  in  error; 
man,  impaired  in  understanding,  grovelling  in  affec- 
tion, in  captivity  to  sense,  needs  to  be  frequently  ad- 
monished of  his  obligation  to,  and  dependence  upon 
God,  his  Creator  and  Preserver.  He  needs  forms,  and 
seasons,  and  places  of  worship ;  the  heart  must  be  ap- 
proached through  the  channels  of  sense  :  and  our  ac- 
quaintance with  the  Father  of  s;  irits  must  be  preserv- 
ed, by  means  of  things  seen  and  temporal.  Hence  a 
sabbath,  a  tabernacle,  a  temple;  sacrifices,  sacraments, 
sermons,  are  the  institution  of  Heaven  ^  are  the  or- 


LECT.  VII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  339 

dinances  of  Him  "  who  knows  what  is  in  man,"  and 
what  is  necessary  to  man. 

It  is  easy  to  conceive  what  the  world  would  be,  des- 
titute of  the  modes  and  ofiices  of  religion,  when  we 
consider  what  men  are,  with  the  advantage  of  "  iine 
upon  line,  precept  upon  precept,"  revelation  uj)on  re- 
velation. The  religious  ceremonies  and  services  in  use 
among  ancient  nations,  whatever  were  their  origin, 
become  respectable  in  our  eyes,  merely  from  their 
antiquity  :  but  when  to  antiquity  is  superadded  divine 
authority;  when  we  behold  the  great  JEHOVAH 
condescending  to  describe  and  to  appoint  the  rites  of 
his  own  worship,  to  exhibit  a  model  of  all  the  iuiitru- 
ments  to  be  employed  in  his  sei  vice,  we  feel  something 
more  than  respect ;  we  are  filled  with  veneration  ;  we 
break  out  into  the  exclamation  of  Solomon,  *'  Will  God 
indeed  dwell  with  men  upon  the  earth?" 

Moses  had  now  finally  descended  from  the  mount, 
fuinislied  with  complete  instructions  for  settling  the 
civil  government  and  the  religious  polity  of  the  nation 
which  God  "  chose,  to  place  his  name  there."  Under 
the  direction  of  men  divinely  inspired  for  the  work,  he 
addresses  himself  to  the  execution  of  the  plan  which 
God  himself  had  vouchsafed  to  delineate.  From  the 
liberality  and  zeal  of  the  people,  materials  are  speedily 
and  amply  supplied.  Through  the  skill  and  assiduity 
of  the  artists,  the  business  is  speedily  and  successfully 
dispatched  :  and,  on  the  first  anniversary  of  the  depar- 
ture out  of  Egypt,  the  tabernacle  is  ready  to  be 
reared  up. 

It  is  not  my  design  to  attempt  a  minute  description 
of  that  sacred  structure,  and  of  its  furniture.  But  I 
find  it  impossible  to  pass  them  by  entirely,  as  I  apjiie- 
hend  a  few  remarks  of  a  practical  nature,  fall  directly 
within  the  design  of  these  exercises,  and  may,  by  the 
divine  blessing,  render  the  awful  monuments  of  reli- 
gion in  the  wilderness,  instructive  and  useful  in  gospel 
times. 


340-  \  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.    Vlf, 

The  name  and  the  nature  of  the  tabernacle  were, 
perhaps,  intended  to  be  emblematical  of  the  whole 
dispensation,  of  which  it  was  a  leading  instrument. 
A  tent,  or  tabernacle,  is  a  temporary  and  portable 
habitation,  suited  to  a  state  of  journeying  or  warfare  ; 
and  this,  in  particular,  was  to  be  tlie  guide  to  Canaan, 
to  give  the  signal  of  motion  and  of  rest;  to  lead  the 
way  to  victory  and  peace:  and  when  lull  possession 
was  at  length  given,  the  tabernacle  transferred  its  tran- 
sitory glory,  to  the  stationary  glory  of  the  temple  ;  or 
rather  was  consolidated  into  one  glory  with  it,  Ttins, 
all  the  positive  institutions  of  religion  are  de»igi'(=jd  to 
be  our  monitors,  guides  and  comforters  in  (he  wilder- 
jies^;  to  introduce  us  into  the  promised  land;  and 
then  the  objects  of  faith  shall  become  objects  of  vision, 
and  the  redeemed  of  the  Lord  shall  worship  together 
in  that  temple,  from  which  there  is  no  more  going  out, 

Jehovah  declared  himself  not  only  the  spiritual  Head 
of  the  Israelitish  church  and  nation,  but  alsi)  their  tem- 
poral Sovereign  ;  the  supreme  Head  and  Governor  of 
tlieir  political  economy.  As  such  he  gave  command- 
ment to  pitch  a  tent  for  the  leader  and  commander  of 
bis  people,  from  whence  orders  were  exp<^cted  and 
issued  ;  over  which  the  royal  standard  was  seen  perpe- 
tually hovering  in  the  dreadful  glory  of  a  pillar  of 
cloud  by  day,  and  of  fire  by  night.  And  the  final 
fulfilling  of  the  scriptures  is  the  gathering  into  one,  to 
the  standard  of  the  Redeemer,  *'  a  great  multitude, 
which  no  man  can  number,  of  all  nations,  and  kin- 
dreds, and  people,  and  tongues,"  Rev,  vii,  9;  when 
at  the  sounding  of  the  seventh  angel,  there  shall  be 
"  great  voices  in  heaven,  saying.  The  kingdoms  of 
this  world  are  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and 
of  his  Christ,  and  he  shall  reign  forever  and  ever," 
Chap,  xi,  15. 

From  the  contemplation  of  a  tabernacle  constructed 
of  parts  that  might  be  separated,  and  joined  together 
again,  as  occasion  required,  we  are  led  to  contemplate 


LECT.  VII.  HISTORY  OP  MOSES.  541 

the  "  city  of  our  solemnities,"  Jerusalem  that  is  above, 
** a  quiet  habitation,  a  tabernacle  that  shall  not  be  taken 
down,  not  one  of  the  strikes  thereof  shall  ever  be  re- 
moved, neilher  shall  any  of  the  cords  thereof  be  bro- 
ken. But  there  the  glorious  Lord  will  be  unto  us  a 
place  of  broad  rivers  and  streams  ;  wherein  shall  go 
no  galley  with  oars,  neither  shall  gallant  sliip  pass 
thereby,"   Laiah  xxxiii.  20,  21. 

The  fabric  in  the  wilderness  w  as  not  a  design  of  hu- 
man skill,  nor  fashioned  according  to  models  seen  iu 
Egypt,  but  planntd  of  infinite  wisdom,  erecttr-d,  to  a 
single  pin,  according  to  a  pattern  shewn  to  Moses  on 
the  mount.  In  things  which  relate  to  the  management 
of  this  world,  a  latitude  is  g:ven  to  the  exercise  of  hu- 
man prudence  and  discretion  ;  but  in  what  regards  the 
immediate  worship  and  service  of  God,  men  are  tied 
lip  to  an  iota  and  a  tittle,  "  Tlius  saith  the  Lord." 
The  woik  oi  God  is  perfect,  his  law  is  perfect,  his  word 
is  perlfct,  none  can  with  safety  add  thereto,  or  diminish 
from  it.  A  holv  and  a  jealous  God  has  fenced  himself 
and  his  ordinances  as  with  a  wall  of  fire,  which  pre- 
sumption attc-mpts  to  break  through  at  its  peril,  "  For 
I  testify  unto  every  man  that  heareth  the  words  of  the 
prophecy  of  this  book  :  if  any  man  shall  add  unto  these 
things,  God  shall  add  unto  him  the  plagues  that  are 
written  in  this  book  :  and  if  any  man  shall  take  away 
from  the  words  of  the  book  of  this  prophecy,  God  shall 
take  away  his  part  out  of  the  book  of  life,  and  out  of  the 
holy  city,  and  from  the  things  which  are  written  in  this 
book,"  Rev.  xxil.  ]S,  19-  Wlien  we  consider  the  dread- 
ful import  of  these  words,  who  but  must  tremble  to 
think  on  the  rash,  the  irreverent,  the  profane  use  that 
is  daily  made  of  the  name  and  the  book  of  God.  Is  it 
thus  ye  requite  your  Maker,  foolish  creatures  and  un- 
wise ?  *'  He  is  wise  in  heart,  and  mighty  in  strength  j 
who  hath  hardened  himsell  against  him,  and  hath  pros- 
pered ?"  Job.  IX.  4. 

The  tabernacle  consisted  of  three  several  apartments 


34^  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VII. 

one  within  another.. .The  court,  the  holy  place,  and  the 
most  holy  place,  or  the  holy  of  holies.  The  temple  of 
Solomon  was  built  upon  the  same  plan.  And  theear- 
Jier  christian  churches  preserved  something:  of  a  resem- 
blance to  it.  For  they  consisted,  first,  of  a  spacious 
porch,  where  the  penitents  who  implored  the  prayers 
of  the  faithful,  the  catechumens,  the  Gentiles,  the  Jews, 
and  the  heretics,  were  stopped  short.  The  second 
compartment  was  the  nccvg,  the  nave,  or  body  of  the  tem- 
ple, where  the  faithful  assembled,  and  performed  their 
devotions ;  and  the  third  was  the  Bi;i^<r,  or  choir,  into 
which  ecclesiastics  only  were  admitted,  and  in  which 
w(^re  placed  the  altar,  the  throne  of  the  bishop,  and  the 
stalls  of  the  clergy. 

Some  learned  men  have  given  it  as  their  opinion  that 
the  Grecians  borrowed  their  noble  and  beautiful  style 
of  architecture,  from  the  perfect  Hebrew  models  de- 
scribed in  the  sacred  volume  ;  that  it  was  transmitted 
by  them  to  the  Romans  ;  from  whom  it  has  descended 
to  all  the  provinces  of  their  great  empire,  and  conti- 
nues to  be  the  ornament  and  the  glory  of  the  modern 
world.  Indeed  it  seems  to  be  something  more  than 
human  invention  and  art,  that  through  the  lapse  of  so 
many  ages,  so  many  revolutions  of  empire,  so  many 
changes  of  taste  and  opinion,  the  same  arrangement 
and  proportions  should  excite  universal  admiration, 
find  yield  univiersal  delight ;  and  that  the  slightest  de- 
viation from  the  principles  of  that  noble  art  should  in- 
stantly be  observed,  and  universally  offend  the  ey^. 
Does  it  not  seem  as  if  he  who  formed  the  eyej  had  also 
deigned  to  design  the  model  of  what  would  fill  and 
plcHse  it  ? 

The  court,  then,  was  rather  the  large  space  of  ground 
in  which  the  tabernacle  was  erected,  than  any  part  of 
the  tabernacle.  Its  form  was  an  oblong,  whose  length 
was  double  its  breadth,  being  an  hundred  cubits,  by 
fifty,  tliat  is,  according  to  the  most  apjMovcd  calcula- 
tion, an    hundred  and  fifty  feet  by  seventy-five.     It- 


LECT.   VII.  IIISIORY  OF  MOSLS.  54^ 

was  encompassed  on  all  skies  by  curtains  of  fine  twined 
lin(m,  fixed  to  titty-six  pillars  of  Sliittim,  that  is,  us 
the  seventy  interpret  it,  incorruptible  wood,  filleted 
with  silver,  of  the  height  of  five  cubits,  or  seven  teet 
and  a  half.  The  gate  or  [)a.s.sage  into  the  court  was  a 
hanging  of  twenty  cubits,  ciiriously  embroidered,  and 
supported  by  four  piljar»  of  the  same  materials  and 
workmanship.  On  all  vvluch  particulars,  I  shall  detain 
you  to  make  this  only  remark  :  when  we  see  the  great 
God  condescending  to  give  directions  concerning  the 
formation  and  use  of  the  most  minute  implements  per- 
taining to  sanctuary  service,  of  pins,  rings,  loops  and 
hooks,  man  is  taught  to  consider  nothing  as  beneath 
his  notice  which  can  affect  his  own  credit,  usefulness 
and  comfort,  or  the  fame,  virtue  and  happiness  of  his 
neighbor.  ''  Let  all  things  be  done  by  us  decently 
and  in  order."  Be  it  the  glory  of  a  fabulous  Jupiter, 
that  it  is  beiieafh  his  dignity,  and  mconsistent  with  his 
higher  occupations,  to  attend  to  small  matters.  It 
is  the  glory  of  the  hving  and  true  God,  the  Maker  and 
Preserver  of  all  things,  it  is  the  excellency  of  his  ad- 
ministration, the  beauty  of  his  providence,  that  ''the 
hairs  of  our  head  are  numbered  of  him."  "Are  not 
two  sparrows  sold  for  a  farthing  ?  and  one  of  them 
shall  not  fall  on  the  ground  without  your  Father," 
Matt.  X.  29. 

On  entering  the  court,  the  objects  which  first  pre- 
sented themselves  were,  on  the  one  hand  the  altar  of 
burnt-offering,  and  on  the  other,  the  laver  for  the 
priests  to  wash  in.  The  materials  and  form  of  these 
two  instruments  of  divine  worship,  have  offered  to  the 
learned  and  ingenious,  many  curious  subjects  of  spe- 
culation, some  of  which  might  perhaps  amuse,  but  could 
not  greatly  edify  you.  As  the  whole  service  of  the 
tabernacle  was  typical,  and  presented  the  "shadow  of 
good  things  to  come,"  it  will  not  1  trust  be  deemed  a 
mere  flight  of  imagination  to  suppose,  that  by  the  altar 
of  burnt-offerings,  and  the  use  to  which  it  was  devoted,. 


344  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VII, 

the  o^reat  atonement,  the  means  of  pardon  and  accep- 
tance with  God  were  shadowed  forth  ;  and  that  by  the 
laver  and  its  use,  on  the  other  hand,  was  represented 
the  purity  which  becomes  all  who  approach  to  a  pure 
and  holy  God.  In  their  nearness  to,  and  union  with 
each  other,  they  exhibit  that  which  brings  the  guilty 
near  unto  God,  and  that  which  fits  them  for  commu- 
nion with  God.  Justification  freely  by  the  grace  of 
God,  "through  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ  Jesnsj" 
and  sanctification  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  whereby  -ve 
are  prepared  to  be  "  partakers  of  the  inheritance  of 
saints  in  light."  An  altar  without  a  laver  were  to  en- 
courage the  olfende  to  "  continue  in  sin,  because  grace 
abounds  ;"  a  laver  without  an  altar  would  be  to  inspire 
a  vain  confidence  in  an  external  and  imperfect  righte- 
ousness, to  the  neglect  of  that  which  is  of  God  by  faith, 
and  which  purifieth  the  heart.  In  conjunction,  they 
repretient  man's  happiest  state  and  highest  glory,  sin 
forgiven,  and  nature  renewed. 

"  The  holy  place,''  which  was  properly  the  taber- 
nacle, presented  itself  at  the  upper  end  of  the  court. 
Its  dimensions  are  not  kud  down  by  Moses.  Those 
who  take  it  tor  granted  that  tlje  tabernacle  was  a  mi- 
niatUiC  representation  of  the  temple,  from  the  mea- 
surement of  that  great  edifice  as  described  in  the  first 
book  of  Kings,  make  the  leiigth  of  the  holy  place  of 
the  tabernacle  to  be  twenty  cubits  or  thirty  feet.  It 
was  sf[iaiated  from  the  court  by  a  curtain,  WiJ  in  which 
none  but  the  priests  wer*^  permitted  to  enter,  anc  vbere 
.  they  ofiiciated  at  the  altar  of  the  Lord,  in  the  order  of 
their  course.  Josephus  affirms,  that  when  the  priests 
ministered  in  the  hdy  place,  the  separating  veil  was 
drawn  up,  so  tliat  they  could  be  seen  of  the  people. 
Phiio,  with  greater  appearance  oi  truth,  maintains 
the  contrary  opinion.  It  is;  dear  f>om  a  passage  in 
the  gospel  according  to  Luke,  that  the  priest  who  ofTi- 
ciated  in  the  holy  |)!ace  of  the  second  temple,  was 
out  of  the  sight  of  the  people  j  for  it  is  said  of  Zacha- 


LECT.  VII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  345 

rias,  when  he  was  offering  incense  in  the  holy  place, 
"  the  whole  multitude  was  praying  without  i"  that  they 
waited  lor  him,  and  "  marvelled  that  he  tarried  so 
long  in  the  temple,"  Luke  i.  10,  '21  ;  and  they  disco- 
vered not  the  cause  of  it  till  he  made  it  known  to  them 
by  signs. 

.  Though  we  are  not  informed  of  the  exact  dimensions 
of  the  "holy  place,"  we  know  that  it  was  a  covered 
tent,  with  one  fold  of  various  materials  upon  another. 
First,  ten  curtains  of  equal  size,  of  blue,  purple,  scarlet, 
and  fine  twined  linen  ;  embroidered  with  cherubims  ; 
and  coupled  together  with  loops  of  blue  and  taches  of 
gold.  Above  these  were  extended  eleven  curtains  of 
goats  hair,  hung  together  by  taches  of  brass.  These 
again  were  covered  with  rams*  skins  dyed  red  ;  and 
over  all  there  was  a  covering  of  badgers*  skins,  probably 
as  a  protection  from  the  injuries  of  the  air  and  weather. 
The  intention  and  meaning  of  this  multiplied  and  va- 
riegated ceiling  we  pretend  not  to  explain.  Was  it 
intended  to  represent  the  impenetrable  recesses  of  the 
Eternal  Mind  :  to  check  the  folly  and  sinfulness  of  an 
over  curious  inquiry  into  mysteries  which  are  intention- 
ally concealed  ;  and  to  teach  men  to  make  a  wise  and 
temperate  use  of  known  and  revealed  truth?  Was  it 
not  sufficient  to  every  pious  Israelite,  that  the  altar  of 
burnt-offering  and  the  laver  of  purification  were  under 
the  open  canopy  of  heaven,  seen  of  all,  accessible  to  all  ? 
And  by  this  circumstance,  did  not  even  the  law  teach 
the  open  and  unlimited  extent  of  salvation  by  the  great 
Atonement  ?  Religion  forbad,  and  the  structure  pre- 
vented, the  body  of  the  people  from  entering  within  the 
veil,  or  penetrating  into  the  mytseries  concealed  under 
such  a  covering  ;  one  fold  past,  another,  and  another, 
in  almost  endless  succession,  opposed  itself.  Woe  be 
to  him  who  makes  a  mystery  of  what  God  has  gra- 
ciously disclosed  ;  and  woe  be  to  him  who  presumes  to 
pry  into  what  God  has  intentionally  hid  from  his  eyes. 
Thus  sublimely  sings  the  enraptured  British  Psalmist: 

VOL.  IT.  2  Y 


S46  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LEGT.    VLI. 

Chain'd  to  his  throne  a  volume  lies, 

With  all  the  fates  of  men  ; 
With  every  angel  s  form  and  size 
Diawn  by  th'  eternal  pen. 

His  Providence  unfolds  the  book, 

Avid  makes  his  counsels  shine   : 
Each  opening  leaf,  and  every  stroke 

Fulfils  some  deep  design. 

Here  he  exalts  neglected  worms 

To  sceptres  and  a  crown  ; 
Anon  the  lolU'wing  page  he  turns, 
And  treads  the  monarch  down. 

Not  Uabriel  asks  the  reason  why, 

Nor  God  the  reason  gives  ; 
Nor  dares  the  favorite  angel  pry 

Between  the  folded  leaves.* 

The  ftirniture  of  the  holy  place  is  minutely  describ- 
edi  and  its  meaning  and  use  are  not  obscurely  pointed 
out  in  many  places  of  the  sacred  writings.  It  consist- 
ed of  three  articles,  the  golden  candlestick  with  seven 
lamps  i  the  golden  altar  of  incense  i  and  the  table  of 
shew  bread.  Each  of  which  might  easily  furnish  mat- 
ter for  a  separate  discourse  ;  but  we  confine  ourselves 
to  general  ideas,  and  practical  observations. 

The  first  piece  of  furniture  in  the  holy  place  Mas 
"  the  golden  candlestick  to  give  light  ;"  all  whose 
appurtenances  were  of  pure  beaten  gold.  It  was 
placed  on  the  south  side,  that,  is  on  the  left  hand  as 
you  enter  the  tabernacle,  directly  opposite  to  the  ta- 
ble of  shew  bread.  It  was  a  talent  in  weight :  which 
is  about  one  thousand  five  hundred  ounces,  or  one 
hundred  and  twenty  five  Roman  pounds,  whose  value, 
according  to  the  calculation  of  the  learned  bishop  of 
Peterborough,  wVts  five  thousand  and  seventy-five 
pounds  fifteen  shilhngs  and  a  fraction,  of  our  money. 
It  is  the  most  generally  received  opinion,  that  all,  or 
some   of  these  seven  lamps  in  the  candlestick,  were 

*  Watts,  Horse  Lyricx. 


7^ECT.  VII,  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  347 

kept  continually  burning;  tliat  tlicv  were  extinguished 
in  turn,  to  be  cleansed  and  supplied  with  tresli  oil ; 
-and  that  their  parts  were  made  to  separate  for  this  very 
purpose.  As  the  priests  alone  could  en  er  the  holy 
place,  to  them  of  course  was  committed  the  whole 
charge  of  lighting,  trimming,  andcleaning  the  lamps. 
Jt  is  much  easier  to  ask  many  questions  on  this  subject 
than  to  answer  one.  Why  the  number  of  seven  lamps 
in  one  candlestick;  that  number  of  perfection,  as 
some  have  called  it,  and  under  which  so  many  myste- 
ries are  supposed  to  be  concealed  ?  Why  should  it 
burn  in  a  place  where  no  eye  was  to  see  its  light,  or 
to  receive  benefit  from  it,  except  a  solitary  priest? 
W^herefbre  this  waste  oi'  treasure  for  no  apparent  equiv- 
alent use }  To  all  such  questions  it  must  be  replied, 
"Thus  the  great  Lawgiver  would  have  it."  **.We 
know  in  part,  and  we  prophesy  in  part.  What  he 
doth  we  know  not  now,  but  we  shali  know  hereafter." 

From  this  created,  confined,  imperfect,  self-con- 
suming light,  we  are  led  to  contemplate  that  pure, 
<eternal,  undecaying  lighf  which  communicates,  of  its 
o\vn  splendor,  whatever  glory  any  creature  possesses. 
**  We  are  ied  to  Him  who  is  the  true  light  of  the 
world." 

W"e  silently  turn  from  the  tabernacle  in  the  wilder- 
ness to  adore  Him  who  ip  the  beginning  said,  *'  Let 
there  be  light:  and  there  was  light."  We  are  con- 
ducted in  the  visions  of  God,  to  contemplate  the  splen- 
dor of  the  christian  churches,  and  behold  "  the  Son  of 
Man,  walking  in  the  midst  of  the  seven  golden  can- 
dlesticks." We  are  hurried  forward  to  the  last  avviul 
hour  of  dissolving  nature,  when  "  the  sun  shall  be 
darkened,  and  the  moon  shall  not  give  her  light,  and 
the  stars  shall  fall  from  heaven,  and  the  powers  of  the 
heavens  shall  be  shaken."  We  are  transported  to 
that  celestial  city  which  "  has  no  need  of  the  sun, 
neitiier  of  the  moon  to  shine  in  it ;  for  the  glory  of  God 
doth  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light  thereof." 


S48  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VII. 

Without  encroaching  on  your  time  and  patience,  or 
running  over  the  subjects  with  indecent  and  unprofita- 
ble haste,  it  were  impossible  to  convey  any  proper 
and  useful  idea  of  the  remaining  utensils  of  this  vene- 
rable structure,  and  the  still  more  venerable  recess 
inclosed  within  it,  styled  "  the  most  holy  place." 
The  description  of  these  therefore,  with  the  history  of 
the  august  ceremonies  of  setting  up  the  tabernacle, 
and  the  relation  of  the  whole  to  the  "  better  things  to 
come,"  of  which  they  were  the  shadows,  shall  be  post- 
poned to  another  Lecture,  which  will  conclude  the 
second  book  of  this  Sacred  History,  and  another  an- 
nual revolution  of  our  own  frail,  transitory  life.... 
*'  Teach  us,"  O  God,  "  so  to  number  our  days  that 
we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom,"  Psalm  xc. 
12.  Vouchsafe  to  dwell  with  us  in  thy  word  and  or- 
dinances; let  "  Christ  dwell  in  our  hearts  by  faith,** 
and  raise  us  one  after  another  to  dwell  with  thee  in  the 
holiest  of  all,  through  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.     Amen. 


HISTORY   OF  MOSES. 


LECTURE  VIII. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  first  months  in  the  second 
yeai\  on  the  first  day  of  the  month,  that  the  taber- 
nacte  zvas  reared  up.  T/ien  a  cloud  covered  the  tent 
of  the  congregation,  ajid  the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled 
the  tabernacle.  And  Moses  zvas  not  able  to  enter 
into  tiie  tent  of  the  congregation,  because  t/ie  cloud- 
abode  thereon,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  filled  the 
tabernacle.  And  zvhen  the  cloud  zvas  taken  up  from 
over  the  tabernacle,  the  children  of  Israel  ivent  on- 
ward in  all  their  jour nies.  But  if  the  cloud  zvere  not 
taken  up,  t lien  they  journeyed  not,  till  the  day  that 
it  zvas  taken  up.  Fur  the  cloud  of  the  Lord  was  upon 
the  tabernacle  by  day,  and  fire  zvas  on  it  by  nighty 
in  the  sight  of  tlie  house  of  Israel,  throughout  all 
their  jour  nies.... YjXODus  xl.  17,  34. ..38. 

Xp  VERY  production  of  human  power  and  skill  bears 
•*--'  this  inscription,  **  I  am  made  to  perish."  Man 
himself  the  moment  he  begins  to  breathe  begins  to 
die,  and  his  noblest,  most  durable,  and  most  glorious 
works  are  no  sooner  completed,  than  they  begin  to 
fall  to  decay.  In  vain  we  look  for  the  monuments  of 
ancient  grandeur  and  magnificence  ;  they  have  either 
wholly  vanished  away,  or  present  to  the  eye  scattered 
fragments,  or  tottering  ruins,  ready  to  dash  them- 
selves upon  the  ground.  Where  is  now  that  city  and 
tower  which  raised  its  proud  head  to  heaven,  in  defi- 
ance of  the  waters  of  a  second  deluge  ?  Neither  the 


^50  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VIII- 

solid  and  cosj;ly  materials  of  which  it  was  composed, 
the  sacred  purposes  to  which  it  was  applied,  nor  the 
H-vvful  glorj'  vvhich  once  presided  over  and  resided  in 
it,  having^  preserved  from  decay  and  loss,  the  taber- 
nacle of  tr'.e  congregation,  the  work  of  divinely  inspir.  d 
Brzaleel  and  Aholiab.  Of  the  magnificent  structure 
on  mount  Zion,  the  wonder  and  glory  of  the  whole 
earth,  not  one  stone  remaineth  upon  another. 

All  tl)at  was  formal  and  iiistrumental  in  the  ancient 
dispensation  seems  to  have  been,  by  the  special  ap- 
pointment of  Providence,  destroyed  and  anniliilated, 
iljat  the  spirit  of  it  alone  might  remain.  The  taber- 
nacle, and  temple,  and  their  service  exist  only  in  de- 
scription ;  and  in  those  simpler  and  more  spiiriual  or- 
dinances to  which  they  have  given  place.  And  the  in- 
stitutions which  now  remain,  are  only  preparing  the 
way  for  a  more  august,  more  splendid,  and  more  dura- 
ble manifestation  of  the  divine  glory.  Thelegal  econ- 
omy introduced  that  of  grace  by  the  gospel,  and 
then  passed  away.  The  dispensation  of  grace,  in  like 
manner,  is  now  performing  its  woik,  fulfilling  its  day, 
announcing,  unfolding,  introducing  the  kingdom  of 
glory  ;  and  *'  when  that  which  is  perfect  is  come,  then 
that  which  is  in  part  shall  be  done  away." 

The  satisfaction  of  Moses,  Xvhen  the  whole  work  of 
the  tabernacle  and  of  its  furniture  was  completed,  is 
more  easily  to  be  conceived  than  expressed.  To  see 
the  pattern  shewed  him  in  the  mount  exactly  copied, 
the  design  of  the  great  Jehovah  perfectly  fulfilled, 
must  have  filled  the  good  man's  mind  with  delight  inef- 
fable. AV  ith  a  holy  joy,  similar  to  this,  must  every 
Jover  of  the  gospel  observe  the  exact  coincidence  be- 
tween **  the  shadows  of  good  things  to  come,"  and 
"the  very  image  of  the  things;"  between  the  predic- 
tions concerning  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  and  their 
■accomplishment;  between  the  promises  made  unto 
the  fathers,  and  the  blessings  enjoyed  by  their  children. 
And   what  will  it  be  christians  in  that  world  of  bliss. 


LLCT.  Vlll.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  551 

which  is  the  end  of  our  faith,  and  the  grand  object  of 
our  liope;  what  vviil  it  be,  to  tind  the  entire  coinci- 
dence between  the  descriptions  contained  in  this  book, 
of  future  and  heavenly  glory,  and  the  things  described  ; 
between  the  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises  of 
the  gospel,  and  tlie  glorious  realities  of  our  Father's 
house  abuve  ;  between  the  spirit  whicli  Christianity  now 
teaches  and  inspires,  in  order  todignily  and  bless  man- 
kind, and  the  spirit  which  all  the  redeemed  shall  leel, 
enjoy,  and  express,  when  raised  to  the  dignity  of  be- 
ing kings  and  priests  unto  God? 

hi  tlie  preceding  Lecture  we  endeavored  to  lead 
your  attention  to  the  tbrm,  use  and  end  of  the  taber- 
nacle erected  in  the  wilderness,  and  of  the  several 
parts  of  its  sacred  furniture.  The  outward  court 
under  the  open  canopy  of  heaven,  containing  "  the 
brazen  altar  of  burnt-otYering,"  on  which  incessantly 
burnt  the  consecrated  fire  for  offering  up  the  daily  sa- 
criticL- ;  and  close  by  it  the  lavcr  of  brass  for  the 
priests  to  wash  in."  We  conducted  you  with  trem- 
bling feet  into  the  "  holy  place,"  concealed  in  front 
from  every  profane  eye,  by  a  veil  which  it  was  death 
to  draw  aside;  and  from  above,  by  covering  upon 
covering,  which  no  eye  could  penetrate.  In  this  sa- 
cred recess  were  placed  "  the  golden  candlestick  to 
give  light,  the  golden  altar  of  incense,  and  the  table 
of  shew-bread.  Having  spoken  briefly  of  the  first  of 
these,  we  now  proceed  to  recommend  to  your  notice 
the  other  two. 

The  '*  altar  of  incense"  was  made  of  Shittim  or  in- 
corruptible wood,  overlaid  with  pure  gold,  of  a  cubit 
square,  and  its  height  double  that  dimension,  with  a 
golden  horn  arising  at  each  angle,  and  the  top  encom- 
passed with  a  golden  border  or  crown.  It  had  two 
rings  of  gold  immediately  under  the  border,  to  which 
were  fitted  two  staves  of  the  same  wood,  also  overlaid 
with  gold,  for  the  conveniency  of  transporting  it  from 
place  to  place,  as  occasion  required.     Its   use  was  to 


352  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VIII. 

burn,  at  stated  times,  a  sacred  perfume  of  a  certain 
quality  and  composition,  which  it  was  unlawful  to  com- 
pound, or  applj  to  any  other  use,  or  in  any  other  place. 
It  is  clear  from  many  parts  of  scripture,  that  the  smoak 
of  the  sweet  incense  which  ascended  from  this  altar, 
was  intended  to  represent  prayer  or  intercession. 
*'  Let  my  prayer,"  says  the  Psalmist,  "  be  set  forth 
before  thee  as  incense,  and  the  lifting  up  of  my  hands 
as  the  eveijing  sacrifice,"  Psalm  cxli.  '2. 

While  the  priest,  invisible  to  every  eye,  was  employ- 
er! in  burning  incense  in  the  holy  place,  the  multitude 
u  ere  praying  without.  This  leads  us  directly  to  con- 
sider the  great  "  Apostle  and  High  Priest  of  our  pro- 
fession, who  has  for  us  entered,  not  into  the  holy 
place  made  with  hands,  which  was  the  figure  of  the 
true,  but  into  heaven  itself,  there  to  appear  in  the 
presence  of  God  for  us."  Though  the  veil  be  let 
down  that  we  cannot  behold  Him,  the  eye  of  faith 
penetrates  it,  sees  Him  who  is  invisible i  sees  Him 
lifting  up  holy  and  unwearied  hands  in  our  behalf; 
sees  the  Prince  with  God  prevailing.  The  veil  was 
drawn  aside,  and  discovered  to  the  ravished  eyes  of 
the  beloved  disciple,  an  angel  coming,  and  standing  at 
the  altar,  having  a  golden  censer  :  and  there  was  given 
unto  him  much  incense,  that  he  should  ofterit  with  the 
prayers  of  all  saints  upon  the  golden  altar  which  was 
before  the  throne.  And  the  smoak  of  the  incense 
which  came  with  the  prayers  of  the  saints,  ascended  up 
before  God  out  of  the  angel's  hands,"  Rev.  viii.  3,  4. 
The  solitary  perfume  of  secret  prayer,  the  combined 
incense  of  family  worship,  the  mingled  odours  of  pub- 
lic devotion,  the  prayers  of  all  saints  derive  an  activity, 
a  force,  an  elevation  from  the  u.erit  and  mediation  of 
the  Redeemer,  which  raise  them  to  the  throne  of  God, 
where,  being  accepted  through  the  Beloved,  they  de- 
scend again  in  showers  of  blessings  on  the  behver's 
head. 

Behold  the  altar  which  sanctifies  the  gift,  the  ladder 


LECr.  Vlir.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  3S3 

whose  fouuflatioii  is  on  the  earth  but  its  summit 
reaches  heavcu,  along  which  tlie  ministering-  spirits  to 
the  heirs  of  salvation  convey  the  vows,  the  praises, 
the  holy  desires  of  the  faithful,  u|)  to  their  Father  and 
their  God  ;  and  re-convey  the  gifts  and  graces  of  their 
heavenly  Father  to  his  children  upon  earth.  The  ap- 
proach to  the  golden  altar  of  incense  was  by  way  of 
the  brazen  altar  of  burnt-ofrerinof :   the  new  and  livino- 

o  o 

way  that  conducts  "  into  the  holiest  of  all,"  is  through 
the  rent  veil  of  the  Redeemer's  flesh.  Jesus  having- 
sutfered  the  things  which  were  appointed,  entered  into 
his  glory.  As  by  the  altar  of  burnt-oifering,  so  by  the 
Javer  of  purification,  the  holy  place  was  approachable  ; 
for  "  without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  God  ;"  and 
**  every  one  that  nameth  the  name  of  Christ  must  de- 
part i'rom  iniquity." 

The  horns  at  the  corners  of  the  altar  have  been  con- 
sidered as  eniblemalical  of  strength,  and  being  lipped 
with  the  blood  of  the  atoning  victim,  are  conceived  to 
represent  the  power  of  God,  and  the  grace  that  is  in 
Cljribi  Jesus,  united  in  the  work  of  man's  redemption. 

The  quadrangular  lip  u  re  of  the  altar,  and  the  equal- 
ity of  its  sides,  may  point  out  the  impartial  regards  of 
the  great  Father  of  all,  under  the  dispensation  i  to  which 
that  given  by  Moses  conducted,  to  men  of  every  nation 
under  heaven,  and  they  prefigure  the  day  when,  accor- 
ding to  the  words  of  the  Saviour  himself,  "  men  should 
come  from  the  east  and  the  west,  and  siiall  sit  down 
with  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  in  the  kingdom 
of  heaven,"  Ma'.t  viii.  11. 

The  materials  of  the  altar,  Shittim-wood  overlaid 
with  pure  gold,  by  a  bold  imagination  have  been  sup- 
posed a  figure,  of  the  two-fold  nature  ot  Christ  :  the 
purity,  solidity,  impassableness  of  the  one,  encompas- 
sing, supporting,  securing-  the  fragility  of  the  other,  de- 
fending it  at  all  points,  and  bestowing  upon  it  a  value, 
strength  and  duration  which  it  possessed  not  before. 

Finally,  ti;e  staves  fitted  to  the  rings,   and  perpetu- 

VOL.  TT.  2  z 


35'i  HISTORY  OF  MOSK5.  LECT.  VIII. 

ally  in  their  place  for  the  conveniency  of  motion,  have 
been,  with  what  propriety  you  will  judge,  construed 
into  an  emblem  of  the  transitory  nature  of  the  whole 
dispensation,  which  looked  continually  forward  to  some- 
thing better  than  itself  j  which  forever  warned  the 
comers  thereunto  of  their  pilgrimage  state  saying, 
'*  Arise  ye  and  depart,  for  this  is  not  your  rest."  And 
it  is  remarkable,  that  after  Israel  was  come  to  his  rest 
in  the  land  of  promise,  and  the  holy  furniture  of  the  ta- 
bernacle was  lodged  for  perpetuity  in  the  temple  at 
.Jerusalem,  this  memorial  of  motion  and  change  still 
offered  itself  to  view  :  the  altar,  the  table,  the  ark,  had 
the  instrument  of  removing  them  always  in  its  place 
and,  in  concert  with  every  part  of  the  system  of  nature 
and  providence,  call  upon  men  with  a  loud  and  distinct 
voice,  saying,  "  Seek  ye  another  country,  that  is  an 
iieavenly."     But  we  proceed. 

The  tijini  and  last  piece  of  furniture  in  this  solemn 
repository  was  '*  the  table  ofshew-bread,"  of  the  same 
materials  with  the  aUar,  but  of  different  dimensions, 
two  cubits  in  length,  by  one  of  breadth,  and  one  and  a 
half  in  height  :  and,  like  it,  furnished  with  staves  fitted 
to  four  rings  for  the  purpose  of  conveyance.  Its  use 
vva*;  to  hold  the  shew-bread,  consisting  of  twelve  cakes, 
according  to  tiie  number  of  the  twelve,  tribes,  of  the 
finest  flour,  prepared  according  to  a  special  prescrip- 
tion, in  two  piks  of  six  each,  to  be  renewed  every  sab- 
batii  day,  and  that  which  was  removed  to  become  the 
property  of,  and  to  be  eaten  in  the  holy  place  by  the 
priests,  the  sons  of  Levi,  who  ministered  at  the  altar. 
Novvupcn  the  veryfirst  sight  of  it,  this  ordinance,  besides 
those  circumstances  which  it  possessed  in  common  with 
others,  seems  designed  to  be  a  perpetual  acknowledg- 
ment, on  the  part  of  man,  of  the  care  and  kindness  of  a 
gracious  Providence,  which  gives  to  men  the  rich  enjoy- 
ment of  the  principal  support  of  human  life,  bread,  and 
with  it,  all  the  inferior  accommodations  and  comforts 
which  render  it  desirable.     It  was,  on  the  other  hand. 


LECT.   VIII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  355 

the  security  and  pledge  which  God  vouchsafed  to  give 
to  his  church  and  people,  that  bread  should  continual- 
ly be  given  tlicni  :  tiiat  while  Israel  own(?d  and  ac- 
knowledged God  in  the  way  of  piety  and  devotedness 
to  his  service,  he  would  own  and  acknowledge  them, 
by  an  unwearied  and  effectual  attention  to  their  neces- 
sary demands  and  reasonable  wishes. 

A  common  table  is  the  badge  of  familiarity  and 
friendship,  is  the  sweetest  emblem  of  domestic  union 
and  happiness ;  of  paternal  concern,  of  filial  tender- 
ness, of  brotherly  love. 

The  "  shew-bread"  was  appropriated  to  persons  of 
a  sacred  profession,  to  sacred  seasons,  and  a  holy 
place ;  unless  when  the  greatness  of  the  occasion  super- 
seded the  strickness  of  the  letter,  and  the  law  of  mercy 
took  precedence  of  the  law  of  sacrifice.  O  jjow  much 
more  extended  the  grace  of  the  gospel !  David  alone 
and  his  company,  and  that  only  once,  on  a  necessi- 
tous occasion,  was  admitted  to  the  privileges  of  a 
son  of  Levi,  to  a  participation  of  the  consecrated 
bread;  but  "behold;"  says  the  great  Head  of  the 
christian  church,  *'  I  stand  at  the  door,  and  knock:  if 
a?!]/  man  hear  my  voice,  and  open  the  door,  I  v.ill 
come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup  with  him,  and  he  with 
me,"  Rev.  iii.  20.  What  an  honor  was  it  to  these 
Levites  to  be  received  and  tVfeated  as  the  guests  of  the 
great  Jehovah  !  But  it  is  not  once  to  be  compared  with 
the  unspeakable  felicity  and  honor  of  receiving  and 
entertaining  the  King  of  glory.  And  such  felicity  is 
the  portion  of  the  meanest  of  the  saints  :  thus  shall  it 
be  done  to  the  man,  however  poor  or  despised  among 
bis  equals,  whom  He  by  whom  kings  reign  (Inlighteth 
to  honor ;  for  '*  behold  the  tabernacle  of  God  is  with 
men,"  Rev.  xxi.  3,  The  twelve  tribes,  represented 
by  so  many  cakes  of  bread,  presented  without  ceas- 
ing before  God  in  the  holy  place,  were  without  ceas- 
ing admonished  of  their  common  relation  to  one  ano- 
ther, and  their  constant  security  under  their  heavenly 


356  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VIII, 

Father's  watchful  eye,  and  the  shelter  of  his  expanded 
wings.  *'  Can  a  woman  forget  her  suckling-child,  th:it 
she  should  not  have  compassion  on  the  son  of  her 
womb  ?  yea,  they  may  forgtt,  yet  will  I  not  forget 
thee,"  Isa.  xlix.  15. 

The  renevya!  of  the  cakes  every  returning  sabbath, 
difl'erent  yet  the  same,  removed  yet  remaining,  the 
old  ajipiicd  to  one  use,  the  new  to  another,  may  not 
unri'Jy  represent  tiiat  bread  of  life  which  our  heavenly 
Father's  love  has  provided  for  the  fare  of  our  christian 
sabbaths.. .tije  very  food  which  our  forefathers  lived 
upon ;  not  another  gospel,  but  that  which  was  from 
the  beginning ;  but  served  up  for  our  use,  by  men 
possessed  of  different  gifts,  "according  as  God  hath 
distributed  to  every  man  the  proportion  of  faith  :"  and 
it  is  the  happiness  and  the  praise  of  every  scribe  who 
**  is  instructed  unto  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  to  be  like 
unto  a  man  that  is  an  householder,  which  bringeth 
forth  out  of  his  treasure  things  new  and  old,  "Matthew 
xiii.  52. 

Once  more,  might  not  this  table  of  the  Lord,  per- 
petually covered,  perpetually  furnished,  be  intended 
as  a  figure  of  that  table,  which  the  eternal  wisdom  of 
ihc  Father  has  prepared  and  provided  with  "  the  bread 
which  came  down  from  iieaven,  to  give  life  to  the 
Avorld  r"  And  from  thence,  by  an  easy  and  natural 
transition,  the  eye  ascends  to  ourFather's  house  above, 
m  which  "  tliere  are  matiy  mansions,"  and  where 
**  there  is  bread  enough  and  to  sj)are;"  and  O  how  hap- 
py is  that  man  v>  ho  *'  shall  eat  bread  in  the  kingdom 
of  God." 

Such  was  the  holy  place  and  its  furniture;  the  uses 
to  Vv  hich  it  was  applied,  and  the  spiritual  objects 
whicli  it  presents  to  our  view. 

With  reverence  we  draw  nigh  to  the  last  solemn 
recess  of  this  venerable  structure,  called  "  the  ark," 
by  •.ay  of  eminence  and  distir.ction  ;  sometimes,  *' the 
ark  of  the  covenant;"  the  ark  of  the   "testimony;" 


LECT.  Vlll.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  357 

the  ark  of  "his  strength  j"  the  ark  "whose  name  is 
called  by  the  name  ot  the  God  of  Israel."  AVe  shall 
pass  by  those  circumstances  which  were  in  common  to 
it,  willi  trie  othcT  imjjlemeiits  of  the  worldly  saijctiiary, 
the  holy  places  made  with  hands;  and  point  out  a  fl  w 
of  those  which  were  peculiar  to  itself.  It  was  a  close 
chest  of  two  cubits  and  a  half  long,  one  and  a  ijpjf 
broad,  and  one  and  a  half  in  height:  of  the  self-  tune 
materials  with  the  rest.  The  covering  was  denomina- 
ted the  wiercy-seat ;  from  the  two  ends  of  which  a-ose 
two  ligures  of  cheiubim>,  of  beaten  or  .solid  gohl  with 
their  faces  turned,  and  tlieir  wings  extended  tow  ards 
each  other  ;  lo^  king  down  together  towards  the  mercy- 
seat,  and  C'jucealmg  it  from  the  eye.  For  any  one  to 
touch  this  with  so  much  as  a  finger,  or  to  presume  to 
look  into  it,  except  thosevvho  were  divinely  appointed 
for  the  purpose,  was  instant  and  certain  death,  ci^  the 
dreadful  punishment  of  Uzzah  and  of  the  men  of 
Bethshemesh  awfully  evinced.  Ls  contents  were  the 
two  tables  of  testimony,  the  golden  pot  with  manna, 
the  memorial  of  Israel's  miraculous  supply  in  tlie  wil- 
derness, and  Aaron's  rod  tliat  budded.  Its  principal 
nse  was  to  point,  out  a  way  in  the  pathless  wildesness  lor 
Israel  to  march  in.  From  between  the  two  cherubims 
the  divine  oracles  were  delivered,  at  first  to  Moses  by 
a  voice  ;  f  jr  God  conversed  with  him  as  a  man  with  his 
friend ;  and  afterwards  to  the  high  priest,  who  con- 
sulted by  Urim  and  Thummim,  which  is  supposed  to 
have  been  a  supernatural  declaration  of  the  divine 
will,  by  means  of  rays  of  glory  darted  from  the  most 
holy  place,  upon  the  breast  plate  which  was  studded 
with  twelve  gems.  But  the  nature  and  manner  of  this 
consultation  and  response,  now  are,  and  likely  to  re- 
main so,  a  secret  to  mankind. 

Besides  marking  out  thevvay,  and  directing  the  seve- 
ral encampments  in  the  wilderness,  we  shall  meet  in 
the  course  of  this  history  with  a  special  interposition 
of  it  in  many  noted  particular  cases.     By  it  the  waters 


35$  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VIII. 

of  Jordan  were  divided  asunder,  and  opened  a  pas- 
sage for  Israel  into  the  promised  land.  Before  it  the 
proud  walls  of  Jericho  were  levelled  with  the  ground, 
after  having  been  encompassed  by  it  for  seven  days  : 
its  presence  confounded  Dagon,  and  plagued  the  Phi- 
listines. Treated  with  respect,  or  approached  care- 
lessly and  presumptuously,"  it  became  a  protection 
and  a  source  of  blessing  to  one  family ;  a  terror  and 
a  curse  to  another.  The  king  of  Israel  reckoned  it 
the  glory  of  his  house,  and  the  protection  of  his  king- 
dom ;  and  had  it  conveyed  with  all  suitable  solemnity 
to  the  place  prepared  for  it.  And,  finally,  it  complet- 
ed the  splendor  and  magnificence  of  the  sacred  edifice 
on  Mount  Zion,  the  joy  and  wonder  of  the  whole 
earth.  And  the  divine  presence,  of  which  it  was  the 
symbol,  constitutes  the  safety,  strength  and  happiness 
of  every  living'  temple  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath 
reared.  Let  my  heart,  O  God,  be  an  altar,  from 
whence  the  sweet  incense  of  gratitude,  love  and  praise 
may  continually  ascend.  "Arise,  O  Lord,  into  this 
thy  rest ;  thou  and  the  ark  of  thy  strength.  Let 
thy  priest  be  clothed  with  righteousness  ;  let  me  with 
all  thy  saints  shout  lor  joy.  Turn  not  away  the  face 
of  thine  anointed." 

The  conjectures  of  the  learned  on  the  subject  of  the 
cherubim,  are  various,  many  of  them  fanciful,  and 
for  the  most  part  unsatisfactory.  The  most  obvious 
and  most  generally  received  opinion  is,  that  they  were 
emblematical  representations  of  the  angelic  or  heaven- 
ly host :  and  the  attributes  here  assigned  to  them, 
their  attitude,  and  their  employment  in  the  tabernacle 
service,  correspond  exactly  to  the  idea  given  us  in 
other  parts  of  scripture  of  those  flaming  ministers  who 
stand  continually  before  God,  execute  his  plea^-ure, 
<tdore  his  divine  perfections,  minister  to  the  heirs  of 
salvation. 

Tiie  ark  may  be  considered  as  the  throne  of  God. 
The  cherubim  encompassed  that  throne,  as  the  atten- 


LECT.  VIII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  3~j[) 

clants  ill  earthly  courts  surround  the  throne  and  person 
of  their  prince.  Tliis  is  the  precise  idea  suggested  by 
the  prophet  Jsuiah,  of  the  nature  and  oilice  of  these 
blessed  s[)irits,  in  the  sixth  cliapter  of  his  prophecy. 
"  In  the  year  that  king  Uzziah  died,  I  saw  also  the 
Lord  sitting  upon  a  throne,  higli  and  lifted  up,  and 
his  train  tilled  the  temple.  Above  it  stood  the  sera- 
phims  i  each  one  had  six  nings  ;  with  twain  he  cover- 
ed l)is  tace,and  with  twain  he  covered  his  feet,  and  witli 
twain  he  did  tly.  And  one  cried  unto  another,  and 
said,  Holy,  lioly,  hoiy  is  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  whole 
earth  is  ftiU  of  his  glory,"  Versel...3.  Thus  also 
Daniel  represents  the  same  glorious  object ;  "  The 
Ancient  of  Days  did  sit,  whose  garment  was  white  as 
snow,  and  the  hair  of  his  head  like  the  pure  wool : 
his  throne  was  like  the  fiery  flame,  and  his  wheels  as 
burning  fire.  A  fiery  stream  issued  and  came  forth 
from  before  him ;  thousand  thousands  ministred  unto 
him,  and  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  stood  be- 
fore him,"  Chap.  vii.  9,  10.  Michah  saw  in  vision 
"  the  Eternal  sitting  upon  his  throne,  and  all  the  host 
of  heaven  standing  before  him,  and  on  the  right  band 
and  the  left."  "  The  chariots  of  God,"  says  the  Psalmist, 
*'are  twenty  thousand,  even  thousands  of  angels  :  the 
Lord  is  among  them  as  in  Sinai,  in  the  holy  place," 
Psal.  Ixviii.  17-  And  in  several  other  passages  he  ad- 
dresses the  Deity  as  sitting,  and  dicdling  among  the 
cherubim,   Psal.  Ixxx.  l...PsaI.  xcix.  L 

The  cherubim  had  their  faces  turned  one  toward 
another.  This  might  be  intended  to  represent  the 
perfect  union  of  sentiment  and  co-operation  which 
subsists  among  these  sons  of  light.  In  other  places  of 
scripture,  we  hear  their  voices  in  concert,  raising 
one  song  of  praise,  as  in  the  passage  just  now  quoted 
from  Isaiah,  and  Revelations,  chapter  fourth :  "  They 
rest  not  day  and  night,  saying.  Holy,  holy,  ho\y 
Lord  God  Almighty,  which  was,  and  is,  and  is  to 
come,"  Verse  8.     "  Thou  art  worthy,  O  Lord,  to  re* 


360  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VIII. 

ceivc  glory,  and  honor,  and  power  :  for  thou  hast  cre- 
ated all  things,  and  for  thy  pleasure  they  are  and  were 
created,"  Rev.  iv.  II,  These  glorious  beings,  differ- 
ing in  degree,  infinite  in  number,  have  nevertheless  but 
one  heart,  one  desire,  one  will,  one  aim. ..to  praise  and 
serve  Him  who  is  the  author  of  their  being,  and  the 
source  of  all  their  happiness. 

The  cherubim  are  represented  as  furnished  with 
wings.  This  denotes  the  alacrity,  promptitude  and 
instantaneousness  with  which  angels  obey  the  divine 
.will.  Thus,  the  angel  who  appeared  to  Zacharias  at 
the  hour  of  incense,  "  I  am  Gabriel,  that  stand  in  the 
presence  of  God  :"  and  hence,  elsewhere,  in  scripture, 
the  activity  of  angels  is  compared  to  the  velocity  of 
the  wind,  and  the  rapid  and  irresistible  force  of  fire. 
"  He  rode  upon  a  cherub,  and  did  fly  ;  yea  he  did 
fly  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind."  He  maketh  his- 
angeis  spirits  •,  his  ministers  a  flaming  fire."  BJess 
the  Lord,  ye  his  angels,  that  excel  in  strength,  that 
do  his  commandments,  hearkening  unto  the  voice  of 
his  word.  Bless  ye  the  Lord,  all  ye  his  hosts ;  ye 
ministers  of  his,  that  do  his  pleasure,"  Psal,  ciii.  20,  2L 

Once  more ;  the  faces  of  the  cherubim  were  not 
only  turned  one  to  another,  but  bended  together  to- 
ward the  mercy-seat,  and  their  looks  were  attentively 
fixed  upon  the  ark.  This  expres^ses  the  holy  admira- 
tion, with  which  angels  are  filled,  of  those  mysteries 
of  redemption  which  the  aik  prehgiiP'd.  To  this  re- 
ma,  kable  circumstance  the  apostle  Peter  alludes  in 
his  first  epistle,  when  speaking  of  .sai*. a  ion  through 
"  the  :-ufferings  of  Christ,  and  the  gloiy  that  should 
follow,"  he  adds,  *'  which  thinp.s  tiie  angels  desire  to 
look  into,"  The  words  hterally  tran<.lated  import, 
"  wh'c'h  things,  angels  stoop  down  to  .-oitemplate," 
It  conveys  a  beautiful  and  striking  idea  ot  th(^  gospel 
dispensation.  Angels  are  exalted  to  the  height  of 
glory  and  felicity,  They  behold  God  face  to  face, 
and  drink  of  the  river  of  pleasure,  at  its  very  source. 


LECT.  VIII.  HISTORY  OF  MOS£S.  501 

Tbey  see  his  uncreated  splendor  shining  before  their  eyes. 
They  see  his  goodness  in  the  blessings  which  they  enjoy. 
They  see  his  justice  in  the  punishment  of  angels  "  which 
left  their  first  estate."  They  see  liis  wisdom  in  tlie 
government  of  this  vast  universe.  In  a  word,  every 
thing  that  is  capable  of  filling  the  enlarged  comprehen- 
sion^ of  satisfying  the  inquiring  spirit,  is  set  before  these 
pure  and  exalted  intelligences.  Nevertheless,  amidst 
so  many  objects  of  wonder  and  delight,  in  the  midst  of 
all  this  lelicity  and  glory,  angels  desire  to  be  more  and 
more  acquainted  with  "  the  things  which  belong  to  our 
peace."  They  discover  a  God  rich  in  mercy  to  men 
upon  earth,  as  wonderful,  as  incomprehensible  as  a 
God  abundant  in  loving  kindness  to  angels  in  heaven  : 
and  forgetting,  if  it  be  lawful  to  say  so,  the  lustre  and 
happiness  of  the  church  triumphant,  descend  and  min- 
gle with  the  church  militant,  and  find  fuel  to  divine 
love,  find  materials  for  pleasing,  advancing,  eiidless  in- 
vestigation, in  the  work  of  redemption  by  Jesus  Christ. 
"  These  things  the  angels,"  from  the  heights  of  heaven, 
**  bend  down"  with  humble  earnestness,  with  holy  de- 
sire *'  to  look  into." 

I  conclude  with  quoting  a  passage  of  the  Rabbi 
Maimonides*  on  the  subject.  '*  God  commanded 
Moses,"  says  he, "  to  make  two  cherubim,  in  order  to 
impress  upon  the  human  mind  the  doctrine  of  the  ex- 
isteu'.e  of  angels.  Had  there  been  but  one  cherub 
placed  over  the  mercy-seat,  the  Israelites  might  havt* 
fallen  into  a  grievous  error,  they  might  have  imagined, 
vviih  idolatrous  nations,  that  it  was  the  image  of  God 
himself,  w  hich  they  were  required  to  worship  under 
that  form.  Or  they  might  have  been  led  to  believe, 
on  the  other  hand,  that  there  was  but  one  angel.  But 
the  command  given  to  make  two  cherubim,  joined  to 
this  declaration,  O  Israel,  the  Lord  your  God  is  one 
Jehovu/i,  settles  both  articles  beyond  the  power  of  dis- 
putation. It  proves  that  there  is  an  angelic  order,  and 
*  More  Xevoch.  part  iii.  chap.  xlv. 

VOL.  II.  o  A 


362  HISTORY  OF  MOSES.  LECT.  VIir» 

that  it  consists  of  more  than  one  ;  it  prevents  our  con- 
founding the  idea  of  God  with  that  of  angel  :  seeing 
there  is  but  one  God  who  created  the  cherubim,  ar^ 
created  more  than  one." 

...In  this  sacred  repository  were  laid  up,  for  perpet- 
ual preservation,  the  awful  monuments  of  the  Sinai  cov- 
enant, of  the  church  established  in  the  wilderness  ;  the 
memorials  of  mercies  past,  the  pledges  of  good  things 
to  come,..**  the  tables  of  the  covenant,"  the  incorrupti- 
ble manna,  and  Aaron's  rod  that  budded  :  signifying 
to  all  fulure  generations,  the  permanency  and  immuia- 
bility  of  the  divine  law,  the  unremitting  care  and  atten- 
tion of  tije  divine  providence,  the  dignity  and  stability 
of  the  Levitical  priesthood.  But  tlie  whole  economy, 
and  every  instrument  of  it,  in  process  of  time  passed 
awav.  All  was  at  lenoth  carried  to  Babvlon.  But 
the  dissolution  of  the  empire  which  dared  to  violate 
their  si:ciedness,  was  involved  in  their  violation  and 
dissolution.  Read  the  history  of  it,  Dan.  v.  Verse 
!...(;.  "  Belshazzar  the  king  made  a  great  feast  to  a 
thousand  of  his  lords,  and  drank  wine  belbre  the  thou- 
sand Belshazzar  whiles  he  tasted  the  wine,  com- 
manded to  bring  the  golden  and  silver  vessels,  which 
his  father  Nebuchadnezzar  had  taken  out  of  the  temple 
which  v\as  in  Jerusalem,  that  the  king  and  his  princes 
his  wives  and  his  concubines  might  drink  therein.  Then 
they  brought  the  gglden  vessels  that  were  taken  out 
of  the  lem])ie  of  the  house  of  God,  which  was  at  Jeru- 
salem .;  and  the  king  and  his  princes,  his  wives  and 
his  concubines  drank  in  them.  They  drunk  wine,  and 
praised  the  gods  of  gold,  and  silver,  of  brass,  of  iron, 
of  wood,  and  of  stone.  In  the  same  hour  came  forth 
lingers  of  a  man's  hand,  and  wrote  over  against  the 
candlestick  upon  the  plaister  of  the  wall  of  the  king's 
palace ;  and  the  king  saw  part  of  the  hand  that  wrote. 
Then  the  king's  countenance  was  changed,  and  his 
thoughts  troubled  him,  so  that  the  joints  of  his  loins 
were  loose-tl,  and  his  knees  smote  one  against  another.** 


LECT.  VIII.  HISTORY  OF  MOSXS.  365 

Read  the  writing,  with  the  interpretation  of  it.  "  This 
is  the  writing  that  was  written,  MENE,  MENE, 
TEKEL  UPHARSIX.  This  is  the  interpretation  of 
the  thing  i  MENE,  God  hath  nuniber(?d  tliy  kingdom, 
and  finibhed  it.  TEKEL,  thou  art  weighed  in  the  ba- 
lances, and  art  found  wanting.  PERES,  thy  kingdom 
i-  divided,  and  given  to  the  Medes  and  Persians," 
Verse  25. ..'28.  Read  the  issue.  *'  In  that  night  was 
B'-Ishazzar  the  king  of  the  Chaldeans  slain.  And 
Danus  the  Median  took  the  kingdom,"  Verse  30,  31. 

Such  was  the  wonderful  structure  erected  to  the  ho- 
nor of  God,  and  by  his  special  direction,  in  the  wil- 
derness of  Sinai.  It  was  begun  and  perfected  within 
the  compass  of  little  more  than  six  months.  Every 
thing  was  executed  according  to  the  pattern  shewed 
to  Moses  in  the  mount.  At  length  it  was  set  up  in 
all  its  splendor,  with  a  mixture  of  holy  joy  and  godiy 
fear :  and  the  divine  Inhabitant  took  solemn  posses- 
sion in  the  eyes  of  all  Israel.  A  cloud  covered  the 
tent  of  tlic  congregation,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
filled  the  tabernacle." 

"  Now  of  the  things  which  we  have  spoken,  this  is 
the  sum  :  we  have  such  an  High  Priest,  who  is  set  on 
the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  the  Majesty  in  the 
heavens  ;  a  minister  of  the  sanctuary,  and  of  the  true 
tabernacle  which  the  Lord  pitched,  and  not  man. 
Who  hath  obtained  a  more  excellent  ministry,  by 
how  much  also  he  is  the  Mediator  of  a  better  cove- 
nant, which  was  established  upon  better  promises.  In 
that  he  saith,  A  new  covenant,  he  hath  made  the  iirst 
old.  Now  that  which  decayeth  and  waxeth  old,  is 
ready  to  vanish  away,"  Heb.  viii.  1,  2^  p,  13. 


HISTORY   OF  AARON, 


LECTURE  IX. 

And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  Aaron  in  Mount 
Hor,  by  the  coast  of  the  land  of  Edam,  saying,  Aaron 
shall  be  gathered  unto  his  people  :  for  he  shall  not  en- 
ter into  the  land  xchich  I  have  given  unto  the  children 
of  Israely  because  ye  rebelled  against  my  word  at  the 
water  of  Meribah.  Take  Aaron  and  Eleazar  his 
son,  and  bring  them  up  unto  Mount  Hor :  and  strip 
Aaron  of  his  garments,  and  put  them  upon  Eleazar 
his  son  :  and  Aaron  shall  he  gathered  unto  his  people ^ 
and  shall  die  there.  And  Moses  did  as  the  Lord 
commanded :  and  they  went  up  into  Mount  Hor  iji  the 
sight  of  all  the  congregation.  And  Moses  stripped 
Aaron  of  his  garments,  and  put  them  upon  Eleazar 
his  son :  and  Aaron  died  there  in  the  top  of  the  mount. 
And  Moses  and  Eleazar  came  down  from  the  mount. 
And  when  all  the  congregation  saw  that  Aaron  was 
dead,  they  mommed  for  Aaron  thirty  days,  even  all 
the  house  of  /j'7-ad.... Numbers  xx.  -23. ..'29. 


r — »*"'' 


l^'HE  lives  of  the  most  men,  from  the  womb  to  the 
grave,  pass  away  imobserved,  unregarded,  un- 
known. When  their  course  is  finished,  the  whole  his- 
toi y  of  it  shrinks  into  two  little  articles  ;  on  such  a  day 
they  were  born,  and  after  so  many  days  they  died. 
Of  those  who  emerge  out  of  the  general  obscurity, 
some  begin  their  public  career  at  an  advanced  period 
of  hfe,  and  of  course  it  consists  of  a  few  shining,  inter- 
esting, important   events,  and  is  confined   within  the 


LECT.  IX.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  S65 

compass  of  a  very  few  fleeting  years.  While  the  pro- 
gress of  a  little  selected  baiid,  whom  an  indulgent 
Providence  has  vouchsafed  signally  to  nobilitate,  and 
whom  the  historic  pencil  is  fond  to  delineate,  is  distin- 
guished from  the  cradle  to  the  tomb,  by  an  uninter- 
rupted series  of  splendid  incidents,  exemplary  virtues, 
and  brilliant  actions. 

The  characters  of  men  are  mixed  like  their  fortunes. 
The  most  perfect  instruelion,  for  the  generality  of 
mankind,  which  history  furnishes,  is  perhaps  su[)plied 
from  the  exhibition  of  mixed,  that  is,  of  iinj)erfect 
characters.  Unvarying  scenes  of  fraud,  violence  and 
blood  ;  the  representation  of  undeviating,  unrelenting, 
unblushing  profligacy,  must,  of  necessity,  create  dis- 
gust, or  diminish  the  horror  of  vice.  The  real  annals 
of  mankind  present  no  model  of  pure  and  perfect  vir- 
tue, but  one;  and  from  its  singularity,  it  cannot,  in 
all  respects,  serve  as  a  pattern  for  imitation.  We  c  m- 
template  it  at  an  awful  distance;  we  feel  oursehes 
every  moment  condemned  by  it :  we  turn  from  the  di- 
vine excellency,  which  covers  our  faces  with  shame, 
and  casts  us  down  to  the  ground,  toward  the  mercy 
which  has  sealed  our  pardon,  and  the  grace  which 
raises  us  up  again. 

The  fanciful  representations  of  perfect  virtue,  which 
are  supplied  from  the  stores  of  Action,  can  but  amuse 
at  most;  edify  they  cannot.  They  want  truth,  they 
want  nature,  they  come  not  home  to  the  bosoms  of 
ordmary  men.  I  might  more  easily  ape  the  state  of  a 
king,  than  imitate  the  affectedly  sublime  virtue  of  the 
lieroes  of  romance.  Many  of  the  persons  whose  pro- 
fession it  is  to  retail  those  ideal  virtues,  are  notoriously 
among  the  most  abandoned  and  profligate  of  our  race. 
Ttiose  examples,  therefore,  are  to  be  considered  as  the 
most  useful,  as  I  flatter  myself  they  are  more  frequent, 
which  exhibit  a  mixture  in  which  goodness  predomi- 
nates, and  finally  prevails;  in  which  virtue  is  seen 
wading  througli  difticullies,  .struggling  with  tempta- 


366  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT.  IX. 

tion,  recovering  from  error,  gathering  strength  from 
weakness,  learning  wisdom  from  experience,  sustain- 
ii)g  itself  by  dependence  upon  God  j  seeking  refuge 
froiii  its  own  frailty  and  imperfection  in  divine  compas- 
sion, and  crowned,  at  length,  with  victory  over  all 
opposition,  and  the  smiles  of  approving  Heaven. 

Of  this  sort,  is  the  history  and  character  which  the 
pen  of  inspiration,  which  the  pencil  of  a  brother  has 
drawn,  for  the  instruction  of  this  evening. 

Aaron,  the  first  high  priest  of  the  Hebrew  nation, 
and  the  on!}'  brother  of  Moses,  their  celebrated  legis- 
lator, was  born  in  the  year  of  the  world  two  thousand 
three  hundred  and  seventy:  before  Christ  one  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  thirty-four  :  and  before  the  birth 
of  his  brother  three  years.  It  is  probable  he  came 
into  the  world  before  the  edict  of  the  king  of  Egypt 
was  published,  which  commanded  all  the  Israelitish 
inale  children  to  be  put  to  death.  For  that  edict  seems 
to  have  been  directed  by  a  special  interposition  of  Pro- 
vidence, precisely  to  mark,  and  eminently  to  signa- 
Ize,  the  fir^t  appearance  of  the  great  prophet  of  the 
Jews.  Exposed  to  no  special  danger  in  infancy,  the 
jsubiect  of  no  interesting  memoir  in  early  life,  distin- 
guished by  no  memorable  talents  or  exploits  in  man- 
lajod,  we  see  him  far  declined  into  the  vale  of  years 
before  we  see  him  at  all  i  and,  for  all  our  knowledge 
vi  him,  earlier  or  later,  we  are  indebted  to  the  labors 
of  iiis  younger  brother.  Another,  among  a  cloud  of 
wihicsses,  to  prove  that  the  birthright  of  nature,  and 
the  destination  of  Providence,  are  intended  to  confer 
<listinclions  of  a  very  different  kind.  Moses  has  shone 
loity  years  in  the  court  of  Pharaoh,  has  formed  an  al- 
liance by  marriage  with  a  foreign  prince,  and  cultiva- 
ted the  virtues,  and  prosecuted  the  employments  of 
pii\ate  life  lor  forty  years  more,  before  his  elder  bro- 
ther is  heard  of.  And  when  he  is  at  length  brought 
upon  the  scene,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- three, 
it  js  to  occupy   an  inferior  department  to  his  brother,. 


lECT.  IX.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  5G7 

and  the  elder   is    yet   again    designexl    to   serve  the 
younger. 

His  first  introduction,  however,  to  our  ac(]uaintancc, 
places  him  in  a  [uost  interesting,  respect  able,  and  ho- 
norale  point  of  view.  We  behold  a  venerable  ma;', 
fourscore  and  upwards,  agitated  with  public  cares,  aiut 
moved  with  fraternal  tenderness  and  aflection,  on  his 
way  through  the  wilderness,  in  quest  of  his  long  ab- 
sent brother.  In  these  our  days  of  speedy  convey- 
ance and  communication  from  pole  to  pole,  from  tlie 
east  to  the  west,  by  land,  by  water,  through  the  air, 
we  can  form  but  a  slender  idea  of  the  anxiety  of  friends, 
removed  but  a  few  leagues  distance  from  one  another, 
and  their  consequent  ignorance  of  each  other's  situa- 
tion. Proportionally  sweet  must  have  been  the  delight 
of  meeting  together,  after  long  separation.  Scripture 
has  described  this,  as  it  does  every  thing  else,  in  its 
own  inimitable  manner.  "  Aaron  thy  brother,  behold 
he  Cometh  forth  to  meet  thee :  and  when  he  seeth 
thee  he  will  be  glad  in  his  heart,"  Exod.  iv.  14.  Be- 
hold the  interview  of  two  brothers,  not  the  result  of 
previous  concert,  not  the  effect  of  human  sagacity, 
not  the  fortuitous  coincidence  of  blind,  blundering,  ac- 
cidental circumstances  ;  but  planned  and  conducted 
of  Heaven,  and  effected  by  Him  '*  who  worketh  ail 
things  after  the  courugel  of  his  will,"  and  for  a  great 
and  noble  purpose. 

The  occasion  of  Aaron's  first  appearance  in  the  sa- 
cred drama,  is  not  less  memorable.  Moses  having 
received  the  divine  commission  to  proceed  to  the  de- 
liverance of  his  nation  from  Egyptian  bondage,  re- 
peatedly excuses  himself  from  undertaking  that  hono- 
rable employment,  particularly  on  the  footing  of  his 
deficiency  in  the  arts  of  eloquence  and  persuasion. 
Did  this  arise  from  timidity  in  Moses  ?  was  it  a  false 
modesty  and  humility  ?  or  did  he  indeed  labor  under 
a  defect  of  this  kind  ?  If  the  last,  can  we  avoi^.'  re- 
flecting  on  the  wonderful  equality  with  which  aature 


568  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT     IX. 

distributes  her  gifts  ?  In  conception  who  so  sublime,  in 
composition  who  so  elegant,  in  narration  who  so  sim- 
ple, in  written  language  who  so  perspicuous,  so  forci- 
ble, so  impressive  as  Moi;es  ?  Can  it   be   true,  then, 
what  he  says  of  himself,  **  O  my  Lord,  I  am  nut  elo- 
rjucnt,  neither  heretofore,   nor  since  thou  hast  spoken 
niito  ihy  servant :  but  1  am   slow  of  speech,  and  of  a 
jJovv  tongue,"  Verse  10.      Who  is  so  favored  of  nature 
and  Providence  as  to  possess  every  talent,  every  bles- 
sing ?   Who  so  hardly  dealt  with,  as  to  be  left  destitute 
of  ail  ?  The  praise  of  eloquence  certainly  belongs  to 
-fV '.ron  ;  for  it  is  bestowed  by  him  who  is  best  able  to 
estimate  his  own  gifts.     "  Is  not  Aaron  the  Levite  thy 
brother?  I  know  that  he  can  speak  well,"  Verse  14. 
Biit  O  how  different  the  nature,   the  importance,  the 
effect,  the  duration  of  one  talent  compared  to  another  ! 
The  tongue  which  overawed  Pharaoh,  which  astonish- 
ed all  Egypt,  and  charmed  the  listening  ear  of  Israel, 
speedily  became  mute ;  and  of  its  powerful  charm,  not 
a  single  trace  remains  behind :  while  the  productions 
of  Moses'  pen,   exist  and  shall  exist  till  nature  expire, 
to  instruct,  delight,  and  bless  mankind. 

The  various  instruments  which  Heaven  employs  are 
ever  suited  to  their  seasons,  occasions  and  ends.  The 
interview  between  the  brothers  takes  place  according 
as  infinite  wisdom  had  contrived  it ;  and  it  behoved, 
on  many  accounts,  to  be  a  pleasant  one.  Two  wise 
and  good  men,  so  nc  arly  related,  so  fondly  attached  to 
each  other,  after  a  separation  so  tedious,  to  meet  again 
in  health,  to  confer  together  on  matters  of  such  high  mo- 
intnt,  to  enter  under  the  assured  protection  of  Heaven, 
upon  the  noblest  and  most  generous  enterprize  that 
can  engage  great  and  lofty  spirits,  the  deliverance  of 
their  country  !  Wliat  a  field  for  the  exercise  of  private 
friendship,  of  natural  affection,  of  public  spirit  !  On 
Aaron,  according  to  the  divine  appointment,  fell  that 
most  grateful  of  all  tasks,  to  announce  to  the  wretch- 
ed the  period  of  iheir  nnsery,  "  to  proclaim  liberty  to 


LECT.    IX.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  369 

the  captives,"  the  truth  aiul  faithfulness  of  God  to  the 
desponding  and  dejected,  and  ihe  possession  of  Ca- 
naan to  the  slaves  of  Pharaoh. 

Eloquence  has  an  enchanting  power,  even  over 
those  who  have  no  interest  in  the  suhject  of  it.  How 
potent,  then,  the  enchantment  of  the  heaven-taught 
eloquence  of  Aaron  the  Levite  !  What  grace  must 
Ijave  been  poured  into  his  lips,  when  dehvering  the 
message  of  love  from  the  great  "  I  AM,"  the  God  of 
Abraham,  ls3ac,and  Jacob,  to  their  hapless  oirspring, 
assuring  them  that  the  time  to  favor  them  was  now 
come,  that  his  covenant  was  sure  !  With  what  ravished 
ears  must  the  elders  of  Israel  have  listened  to  such  tid- 
ings, tiowing  from  such  lips  !  Happy  Aaron,  thus  ac- 
complished, thus  commissioned,  thus  prospered  !  Hap- 
py people,  thus  remembered,  thus  addressed,  thus 
persuaded  I  But  wherefore  envy  his  honor,  or  their 
happiness  ^  A  greater  than  Aaron  is  with  us  ;  even  He 
who  says  of  himself,  **  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  God  is 
upon  me,  because  the  Lord  hath  anointed  me  to  preach 
good  tidings  unto  the  meek  :  he  hath  sent  me  to  bind 
up  the  broken-hearted,  to  proclaim  liberty  to  the  cap- 
tives, and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to  them  that  are 
bound  ;"  Isai.lxi.  1.  We  announce  to  you,  that  Je- 
sus, "  in  whom  all  fulness  was  pleased  to  dwell,"  whom 
admiring  multitudes  worshipped,  saying,  "  never  maa 
spake  like  this  man  !"  whose  all-commanding  voice 
checked  the  boisterous  elements,  put  demons  to  flight, 
and  pierced  the  ear  of  death. 

Christians,  we  come  not  to  you  with  the  eloquence 
of  an  Aaron;  but  we  bare  a  message  infinitely  more 
important  than  his.  Our  "  speech  and  preaching  is 
not  with  enticing  words  of  man's  wisdom  ;''  1  Cor.  ii. 
4.  O  that  it  might  be  "  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit, 
and  of  power  :  that  your  faith  should  not  stand  in  the 
wisdom  of  men,  but  in  the  power  of  God,"  1  Cor.  ii. 
4,5.  He  proclaimed  freedom  from  letters  of  iron,  and 
the  oppression  of  an  eartlily  tyrant ;  we  proclaim  lib- 

VOL.  II.  3  s 


370  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT.    IK. 

erty  from  the  bondage  of  sin  ;  from  everlasting  chains 
under  darkness  :  from  the  cruel  tyranny  of  the  devil  : 
from  the  dreadful  curse  of  God's  violated  law,  which 
arms  Satan  with  his  tremendous  power,  digs  the  vast 
recesses  oft  he  unfathomable  abyss,  and  feeds  the  in- 
extinguishable flame  of  the  fiery  lake.  He  published 
a  covenaiit  of  a  temporary  elfect,  which  conveyed  tem- 
poral advantages,  which  was  clogged  with  hard  and 
hazardous  conditions,  which  has  passed  away.  We 
publish  a  covenant,  "  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure," 
whose  stability  depends  not  on  our  fidelity,  which 
possesses  a  commanding  influence  on  eternity,  which 
proposes  everlasting  benefits,  which  makes  provision 
ibr  human  frailty,  which  outruns  our  utmost  wishes, 
composes  our  justest  apprehensions,  transcends  our 
highest  hopes.  The  message  of  Aaron  issued  in  the  pros- 
pect, 3^ct  distant,  of  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey 
of  a  pure  air,  and  a  fruitful  soil ;  but  infested  with  ene- 
mies, influenced  by^  and  exposed  to  inclement  seasons,, 
and  liable  to  Ibrfeiture.  But  our  preaching  men  and 
brethren,  looks  beyond  time,  and  the  flaming  bounda- 
ries of  this  great  universe  ;  it  holds  out  the  distant,  but 
not  uncertain,  prospect  of  a  celestial  paradise,  stored 
with  every  delight  that  is  suited  to  the  nature  of  a  ra- 
tional and  immortal  being  ;  which  is  exposed  to  no 
hostile  incursion,  to  no  elementary  strife  ;  and  whose 
eternal  possession  is  ensured  by  the  almighty  power  of 
God,  and  the  purchase  of  a  Saviour's  blood, 

Aaron  preached,  alas  I  to  men  who  could  not  enter 
iti  because  of  unbelief,  and  the  tongue  itself  which  an- 
nounced Canaan  to  others,  was  silenced  before  Jordan 
divided.  Avert,  merciful  Father,  avert  the  dreadful 
omen.  Let  not  the  preacher,  let  none  of  the  hearers^ 
of  this  night,  be  missing  in  the  day  when  thou  bringest 
home  thy  redeemed  ones  to  thy  heavenly  rest. 

...The  events  of  Aaron's  life  are  so  blended  with,, 
and  dependent  upon  those  of  his  brother,  that  they 
cannot  be  separated.    Many  of  them  have  accordingly 


LECT.  IX.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  3.71 

been  already  adverted  to,  and  shall  not  therefore  now 
be  repeated,  our  hitcntion  being  to  seleet  those  pas- 
sages of  his  history,  which  are  more  personal  and  pe- 
culiar ;  which  more  clearly  mark  a  distinct  character  ; 
and  w  hich  represent  him  invested  with  an  office  which 
was  to  be  hereditary  in  his  family,  and  typical  of  the 
inichangeable  priesthood  of  the  Son  of  God. 

hi  the  conclusion  of  the  sixth  chapter,  Moses  inter- 
rupts the  thread  of  his  narration,  to  deliver  the  gene- 
alogy of  the  family  of  Levi;  a  matter  of  no  little  mo- 
ment in  the  settlement  of  that  political  and  religious 
economy,  which  God  was  about  to  erect,  for  the  bet- 
ter government  of  his  people  Israel.  From  this  it  ap- 
pears, that  Aaron  and  himself  were  in  the  fourth  ge- 
neration, in  a  direct  line,  from  Levi,  Jacob's  third 
son  •,  being  the  sons  of  Amram,  the  eldest  son  of  Ko- 
hath,  the  second  son  of  Levi.  Hence  the}'  are  in  the 
fifth  generation  from  Jacob,  in  the  sixth  from  Isaac, 
and  the  seventh  from  Abraham.  It  farther  appears, 
from  this  genealogical  deduction,  that  Aaron  had 
connected  himself  with  the  tribe  of  Judah,  by  marry- 
ing Elisheba  the  daughter  of  Aminidab,  and  sister  of 
Naashon,  who  became  soon  after  the  head  of  the  pre- 
rogative tribe,  the  progenitor  of  its  long  succession  of 
princes,  and  the  root,  according  to  the  flesh,  of  the 
promised  Messiah.  By  her  he  had  four  sons,  Nadab, 
Abihu,  Eleazar  and  Ithamar.  On  all  which  I  have  only 
to  observe,  that  as  the  miseries  of  Egyptian  bondage  de- 
terred not  Aaron  from  entering  into  that  state  which 
Providence  has  established  for  improving  the  happi- 
ness and  mitigating  the  sorrows  of  human  life,  so  the 
God  in  whom  he  trusted,  rendered  this  virtuous 
union  productive  of  a  race  of  high-priests  to  minister 
unto  the  Lord,  and  to  support  the  honors  of  their 
father's  name  and  office,  to  the  latest  ages  of  the  Jew- 
ish commonwealth. 

With  what  care  has  Providence  watched  over,  and 
preserved  entire,  the  royal  and  sacerdotal  line,  till  the 


ST2  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT.  IX. 

great  purposes  of  Heaven  were  accomplished,  till  the 
descent  of  the  promised  seed  was  ascertained  !  From 
that  period  genealogy  was,  as  it  were,  broken  into  ten 
thousand  fragments,  the  connexion  and  succesision 
of  famihes  were  blotted  out,  as  a  thing  of  nought ; 
and  a  new  family  was  established  on  different  princi- 
ples, in  endless  succession,  all  claiming  and  holding 
of  this  '^first-born  among  many  brethren." 

As  Aaron  is  represented  in  the  possession  of  the  most 
pleasing  powers  of  speech,  to  soothe  the  woes  of  Israel, 
/o  we  see  him  armed  with  a  tongue  sharp  as  a  two- 
edged  sword,  to  smite  and  to  break  the  pride  of  Plia- 
raoh  and  of  Egypt ;  and  bearing  a  potent  rod,  endued 
with  power  to  deliver  or  to  destroy.  And  in  this  the 
ivorid  is  taught  to  respect,  to  revere  the  weakest, 
meanest,  most  contemptible  weapon,  which  the  hand 
of  Jehovah  vouchsafes  to  use.  Its  virtue  lies  not  in 
itself,  but  in  the  arm  that  wields  it.  Through  the 
whole  of  the  astonishing  transactions  which  follow,  we 
lind  an  exact  order  and  method  observed.  Aaron  uses 
not  the  rod  at  his  own  discretion,  neither  does  God 
communicate  his  pleasure  immediately  to  him ;  but 
the  Lord  gives  the  word  to  Moses,  who  delivers  it  to 
Aaron,  who  follows  the  instructions  given  him.  And 
thus,  by  an  example  of  the  highest  authority,  we  are 
instructed,  in  obedience  to  an  injunction  given  long 
after  under  another  dispensation,  '*  that  all  things  be 
done  decently  and  in  order." 

The  next  memorable  event  of  Aaron's  life,  after  as- 
sisting in  the  plagues  of  Egypt  and  the  consecjuent 
deliverance  of  Israel,  is  his  contributing  to  the  defisat 
of  Amalek,  by  aiding  Hur  in  supporting  the  v.eary 
bands  of  Moses  his  brother  upon  the. mount.  To  t!;e 
observations  already  made  on  this  part  of  the  history, 
I  have  oniy  to  repeat  and  to  urge  upon  your  minds 
the  rejection  of  the  Psalmist,  "  Behold  how  good  a 
thing  it  is,"  in  every  point  of  view,  "  and  how  pleasant, 
for  brelhicn  to  dwell  together  in  unity!"  Psal.  cxxxiiii. 


rtCT.  IX.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  575 

1.     By  concord  IIki  wcp.kcst  ])0\vcrs  grow  and  stand  : 
tlirougSi  disunion  the  strongest  are  dissolved  and   fall, 

Aaron  and  hi^  two  eldest  .sons,  with  sevent}  of  tlic 
eMers  of  Israel,  by  divine  appointment,  accompanied 
Moses  to  the  lower  region  of  Mi)unt  Sinai,  when  he 
went  up  to  meet  God,  in  order  to  receive  the  civil  and 
religious  constitution  of  the  state  :  and  with  them,  as 
the  federal  heads  and  representatives  of  the  nation,  the 
political  union  and  covenant  were  ratified  and  confirm- 
ed. And  this  brings  us  forward  to  the  eventful  period 
of  Aaron's  history,  his  solemn  destination  to  the  office 
of  priesthood,  his  preparation  for  it,  and  his  investi- 
ture in  it. 

Th'e  appointment  was  of  Heaven ;  for  "  no  man 
taketh  this  honor  unto  himself,  but  he  that  is  called  of 
God,  as  was  Aaron,"  Hcb.  v.  4  :  and  even  a  king,  in 
latter  times,  who  presumed  to  thrust  himself  into  the 
priest's  office,  paid  the  price  of  his  rashness,  by  a  le- 
prosy which  cleaved  to  him  till  the  day  of  his  death, 
2  Chron.  xxvi,  \6../2\.  "  Take  thou,"  says  the  great 
Source  of  all  honor  and  authory,  "take  thou  unto  thee 
Aaron  thy  brother,  and  his  sons  with  him,  from  among 
the  children  of  Israel,  that  he  mav  minister  unto  me 
in  tl.e  piiest's  office,  even  Aaron,  Nadab  and  Abihu; 
Eleazar  and  Ithamar,  Aaron's  sons,"  Exod.  xxviii.  1, 
It  has  been  objected  to  Moses,  as  a  proof  of  a  selfish 
and  worldly  spirit,  that  he  employed  his  authority,  to 
perpetual e  a  station  of  tiie  first  dignity  and  emolu- 
ment, in  his  own  tribe  and  family,  by  the  appointment 
of  Aaron  to  the  priesthood,  and  by  the  entail  of  it 
upon  his  posterity  forever.  But  surely  the  objectors 
must  have  studied  the  case  very  superficially.  Tlie 
priesthood,  though  of  h-gh  dignity,  possessed  very  slen- 
der emohnncnts,  and  stil!  less  authority.  It  subjected 
the  possessor  of  it  to  much  painful  attendance,  to  much 
laborious  and  much  nn  pleasant  service,  considered  as 
a  mere  secular  emjdoynicnt.  It  was  a  post,  if  of  dis- 
tinguished honor,   so  of  high  responMbility,     But  sup- 


374  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT.  IX. 

posing  it  were  as  lucrative  and  honorable  as  it  is  alleg- 
ed, why  did  not  Moses  assume  it  to  Ijimself  ?  Why 
did  he  pass  by  his  own  sons  ?  Why  not  secure  the  re- 
version, at  least,  for  his  own  children  and  their  heirsr 
When  a  man  has  immediate  descendants  of  his  owr 
bodv,  he  is  seldom  solicitous  about  the  aggrandisement  of 
more  distant  relations,  especially  to  the  prejudice  of 
his  own  children.  The  conduct  of  Moses,  therefore, 
in  the  disposal  of  this  high  office,  on  the  supposition 
that  he  had  a  choice  in  the  matter,  is  the  reverse  of 
selfish ;  it  is  generous  and  disinterested  to  the  last  de- 
gree. The  dignity  of  magistracy  is,  in  his  own  life- 
time, communicated  with  Joshua;  and,  at  his  death, 
is  wholly  transferred  to  him.  The  office  of  high-priest 
is  conferred  upon  Aaron,  and  made  perpetual  to  his 
branch  of  the  family;  while  the  sons  and  descendants 
of  Moses  sink  into  the  rank  of  private  citizens,  with- 
out the  stipulation  of  so  much  as  a  foot  of  land,  extra- 
ordinary, in  Canaan,  in  consideration  of  their  father's 
4^minent  services.  Does  this  look  hke  avarice  and  am- 
bition ?  But  the  truth  is,  Aloses  had  no  choice  at  all 
in  the  case,  and  presumed  to  exercise  none.  God 
iiad  declared  his  will,  and  that  was  sufficient  to  hirn, 
^nd  will  be  so  to  every  good  man. 

If  we  attend  to  some  lines  in  the  character,  and 
some  steps  in  the  conduct  of  Aaron,  we  shall  find 
ii\ore  just  reason  of  surprise  at  his  appointment  to 
this  sacred  office.  We  behold  him,  at  tlie  very  era  of 
his  appointment,  an  abettor  of  idolatry,  and  even 
after  his  instalment  in  it,  we  find  him  meanly  and 
wickedly  envying  the  distinction  which  was  put  upon 
his  meek  and  gentle  brother,  and  with  his  sister  Miri- 
am, heading  a  revolt  from  his  just  authority,  liut,  alas  ! 
were  perfect  men  only  to  minister  before  God,  the  al- 
tar must  soon  be  deserted.  Were  not  sinful  men  to 
be  addressed  by  sinful  men,  the  world  must  speedily 
be  destitute  of  preachers.  "  But  we  have  this  trea- 
sure in  earthen  vessels,  tliat  the  excellency  of  the  pow- 


tECT.  IX.  inSTORY  OF  AARON.  375 

er  may  be  of  Got],  aiulnot  of  us,"  '2  Cor.  iv.  7-  Tlie 
dt-siyii  of  Prorideiice,  fioui  I  he  bfomtiino,  stems  to 
have  been  to  convince  the  world  that  in  every  liand 
his  work  musit  prosper  ;  that  if  l;e  interpose,  all  instru- 
ments, the  nio»t  inadecjuati,  nuist  prove  powerful^ 
and  shall  succeed. 

A  few  remarks  on  the  [>Hrticnlars  of  Aaron's  sacred 
dress,  the  services  n\  which  lie  was  employed,  his  so-- 
lemn  consecration  to  the  )>errormance  of  them,  and 
the  subsequent  events  of  his  life  up  to  the  age  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-two,  together  with  a  cursory  view 
of  his  typical  importance,  as  the  figure  of  the  great 
High-Priest  of  our  profession,  shall,  with  divine  per- 
mission, furnish  the  subject  of  the  next  Lecture.  We. 
conclude  the  present  with  earnestly  exhorting  you, 

...To  be  instructed  by  the  history  of  Aaron  to  be- 
gin to  live  betimes:  if  not  to  public  observation,  utility 
and  importance,  at  least  to  the  purposes  of  piety,  and 
to  the  duties  and  virtues  of  the  private  man  and  of  the 
citizen.  He  lived  long  in  obscurity,  before  he  arose 
into  distinction,  and  was  nurtured  in  the  school  of  af- 
fliction, for  station  and  eminence.  And  it  is  general- 
ly found  that  those  persons  fill  high  and  difficult  situa- 
tions most  respectably,  who  arrive  at  them  through 
painful  study,  many  obstacles  and  much  opposition. 
It  was  late,  very  late  in  life  with  him,  before  he  began 
to  appear  on  the  great  theatre  :  let  none  be  thereby 
deluded  into  the  vain,  deceitful  hope  of  living  long. 
The  instances  of  a  longevity  so  vigorous,  and  so  ex- 
tended, and  so  distinguished,  are  too  rare  to  encourage 
anyone  to  trifle  with  the  season  of  improvement,  to 
neglect  the  present  hour,  to  presume  on  a  distant,  un- 
certain futurity.  Old  age,  should  you  be  one  of  the 
few  who  attain  it,  never  can  be  supported  with  dignity, 
nor  enjoyed  in  comfort,  if  youth  be  wasted  in  dissipa- 
tion, or  permitted  to  rust  in  ignorance.  In  order  to- 
possess  the  vivacity  and  soundness  of  youth,  under  the 
pressure  of  years,  a  portion  of  the  reflection,  steadi- 


®76  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT.  IX. 

iiess  and  composure  of  age,  must  be  called  in,  to  tem- 
per and  direct  the  pursuits  and  enjoyments  of  early 
life. 

...It  is  natural  to  be  dazzled  with  the  display  of  shin- 
ing talents,  c.nd  to  envy  the  possessor  of  them.  But 
these,  also,  are  the  portion  of  only  a  favored  kw. 
The  eloquence  of  an  Aaron  is,  perhaps,  more  rarely  to 
be  found,  than  a  man  of  a  hundred  and  twenty-two 
years  old.  Covet,  then,  and  cultivate  the  virtues  which 
are  attainable  by  ail,  and  are  in  themselves  infinitely 
more  valuable  than  the  oifts  which  are  bestowed  more 
sparmgly,  which  do  not  always  prove  a  blessing  to  their 
owner, and  are  not  always  accompanied  vi'ith  true  good- 
ness, which  alone  is  in  the  sight  of  God  of  great  price. 
Has  an  indulgent  Providence,  however,  distinguished 
you  by  those  rarer  accomplishments,  which  lead  to 
lame,  to  honor,  to  usefulness .?  See  that  you  bury  them 
not,  pervert  them  not,  abuse  them  not.  Ability,  un- 
supported by  worth,  by  moral  excellence,  only  renders 
a  man  more  odious  and  contemptible,  as  well  as  more 
dangerous,  more  mischievous  and  criminal,  He  is  re- 
sponsible both  to  God  and  man,  for  the  u.se  or  abuse 
of  his  superior  powers :  and  to  be  co7ispicuously  criminal 
and  wretched  is  a  dreadful  aggravation  of  guilt  and 
misery.  "  Covet  earnestly  the  best  gifts :"  and  yet  it 
were  easy  to  shew  unto  you  *'  a  more  excellent  way/* 
If  you  know  it,  happy  are  you  if  you  pursue  it. 


HISTORY   OF  AARON. 


LECTURE  X. 


And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  Aaron  in  Mount 
Hor,  bij  the  coast  of  the  land  of  Edom^  sayings  Aaron 
shall  be  gathered  unto  his  people  :  for  he  shall  not  en- 
ter  into  the  land  which  I  have  given  unto  the  children 
of  Israel^  because  ye  rebelled  against  my  xvord  at  the 
xvater  of  Meribah.  Take  Aaron  and  Eleazar  his 
son,  and  bring  them  up  unto  Mount  Hor :  and  strip 
Aaron  of  his  garments,  and  put  them  upon  Eleazar 
his  son :  and  Aaron  shall  be  gathered  unto  his  people, 
and  shall  die  there.  And  Moses  did  as  the  Lord  com- 
manded :  and  they  went  up  into  Mount  Hor,  in  the 
sight  of  all  the  congregation.  And  Moses  stripped 
Aaron  of  his  garments,  and  put  them  2tpon  Eleazar 
his  son  :  and  Aaron  died  there  m  the  top  of  the 
mount.  And  Moses  and  Eleazar  came  dozen  from 
tlie  mount.  And  when  all  the  congregation  saw  that 
Aaron  teas  dead,  they  mourned  for  Aaron  thirty  days, 
even  all  the  house  of  Israel. 

"V'/^T'H  AT  subject  so  interesting  to  man  as  his  inter- 
^  ^  course  with  God,  his  Creator,  Preserver,  and 
Jutlge  ?  And  yet  on  no  subject  have  men  fallen 
into  wilder  and  more  dangerous  mistakes.  A  mad 
aiid  bold  enthu•^iasm  has,  at  one  time,  elevated  rash 
and  presninptuoas  spirits  to  the  level  of  Deity  ;  and  the 
grossest  terms  of  hnrnaci  familiarity  have  been  employ- 
ed, in  addressing  that  infinitely  holy  and  gloriousBeing, 

VOL.    II.  3  c 


27S  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT.  X. 

in  w  hose  presence  angels  veil  their  faces.  A  timid  and 
grovelling  superstition,  on  the  contrary,  has  barred  to 
others,  all  access  to  God;  and  an  aflected,  over-refin- 
ed devotion  has  subverted  the  interests  of  true  piety. 
The  love  of"  this  world  has  encroached  upon,  and  extin- 
guished the  spirit  of  religion  ;  and  a  misguided,  ill-in- 
tbrmed  religion  has  attempted  to  detach  some  men 
from  the  duties  and  employments  of  life. 

Men,  ever  in  extremes,  have  either  banished 
God  entirely  from  their  thoughts,  or  affected  a  higher 
degree  of  reverence  for  his  service,  by  an  avowed  ne- 
glect of  some  of  the  more  obvious  and  more  import- 
ant dictates  of  his  will.  Could  they  but  be  persuaded  to 
take  the  holy  scriptures  for  the  rule  of  their  conduct  in 
all  things,  many  of  these  practical  errors  might  be  pre- 
vented. They  would  thence  be  instructed  to  draw 
nigh  to  a  holy  and  righteous  God  with  reverence 
and  confidence,  as  children  to  a  father ;  and  to  rejoice 
before  a  merciful  and  compassionate  Saviour  with  fear 
and  trembling.  While  the  eye  of  a  guilty  conscience 
beheld  "  cherubims  and  a  flaming  sword  turning  every 
way,  to  keep  the  way  of  the  tree  of  life,"  the  eye  of 
faith  would  discern  "  a  new  and  living  way  which  he 
hath  consecrated  for  us,  through  the  vail,  that  is  to  say, 
his  flesh,"  Heb.  x.  20. 

The  whole  of  divine  revelation,  and  indeed  it  is  the 
chief  end  of  revelation,  represents  the  great  Jehovah 
as  accessible  to  the  guilty  and  the  miserable;  but  ac- 
cessible only  in  a  method,  and  by  means,  of  his 
appointment.  To  the  vilest,  meanest,  most  wretchetl 
of  mankind  there  is.  hope  towards  God,  through  Christ 
Jesus  the  Lord  :  but  to  the  purest  and  most  perfect 
of  our  fallen  race,  "  there  is  not  salvation  in  any  other : 
lor  there  is  none  other  name  under  heaven,  given 
among  men,  whereby  we  must  be  saved,"  Acts  iv.  12. 
All  the  stores  of  divine  grace  are  laid  open,,  all  the 
energy  of  divine  eloquence  is  employed,  to  assure  and 
encourage  the  humble.     *'  The  Lord,  the  Lord  God^ 


LLCr.  X.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  079 

merciful  and  gracious,  loiig-suficring,  and  abundant  in 
goodness  and  truth,  keeping  mercy  for  tijousauds,  for- 
giving iniquity  and  transgression  and  hin,''  Exod. 
xxxiv.  6,  7',  while  one  denunciation  of  justice  serves 
to  check  and  repel  the  impenitent  and  the  proud, 
"  but  who  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty," 

The  institution  of  the  priesthood  under  the  law, 
was  an  exphcit  and  a  standing  declaration  to  tlie  same 
purpose.  It  consisted  of  a  succession  of  men,  and  of 
a  service,  ordained  of  God  to  be  a  perpetual  memorial 
to  mankind  of  their  apostacy  and  guilt,  and  of  the 
means  of  pardon  and  reconciliation  :  of  their  being 
by  nature  and  wicked  works  afiar  off,  but  made  nigh 
by  the  blood  of  atonement. 

Aaron,  the  first  who  was  called  to  execute  this  high" 
office,  had  already  attained  his  eighty-fourth  year,  and 
of  course  had  become  venerable  in  the  eyes  of  men  by 
reason  of  age.  He  possessed  an  insinuating  and  com- 
manding address  ;  he  had  acquired  a  high  degree  of 
estimation,  from  the  honorable  share  that  be  longed  to 
bim,  in  effecting  the  deliverance  from  Egypt ;  and  he 
was  only  brother  to  the  illustrious  and  renowned  le- 
gislator of  Israel.  But  his  noblest  and  most  lionorable 
distinction  was  his  appointment  and  call  from  Heaven, 
to  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  this  exalted  station. 
The  pen  of  inspiration,  however,  always  faithful  and 
true,  represents  him  as  a  man  liable  to  many  infirmi- 
ties. At  the  waters  of  Strife  he  was  betrayed  into  an- 
ger, self-conceit  and  presumption  ;  in  the  matter  of 
the  golden  calf,  we  find  him  chargeable  with  timidity 
and  sinful  compliance  :  he  stands  convicted  of  uidvind- 
ness  and  ingratitude  to  the  best  and  most  affectionate 
of  brothers;  of  the  most  daring  irreverence  and  im- 
piety towards  God,  and  of  dissimulation  bordering 
on  falsehood.  And  even  after  his  con.^ecratioii 
to  thy  priestliood,  with  shame  and  sorrow  we  behold 
liim  wickedly  giving  into  the  mean  and  cojitemptible 
passions  of  envy  and  jealousy;  and,  to  heighten  this 


580  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT.    X. 

base  offence,  the  iinofTeiuling,  unprovoking  object  of 
these  passions,  was  his  own  nearest  relation,  and  the 
man  to  whom  he  was  indebted  for  all  that  eminence  to 
which  he  was  himseJf  raised,  and  which  he  transmitted 
to  his  family.  Bat  with  all  these  imperfections  on  his 
head,  and  many  others,  doubtless,  of  which  it  was  not 
the  business  of  this  record  to  convey  the  memory  to  us, 
he  was  the  man  whom  God  was  pleased  to  choose,  to 
minister  in  the  first  rank  at  his  altar,  and  to  tipify  the 
High-Priest  who  became  v.s,  *'  who  is  holy,  harmless, 
imdeiiled  and  separate  from  sinners." 

As  in  every  thing  that  reia'Led  to  the  construction  of 
the  tabernacle  and  its  sacred  furniture,  Moses  was  con- 
fined to  a  pattern  shewn,  ?.nd  to  directions  given  him 
in  the  mount,  so  also  in  all  things  that  related  to  the 
dress,  the  services  and  the  aLtendance  of  the  high- 
priest  and  his  assistants.  And  you  will  please  to  ob- 
serve that  Moses  himself,  having  been  called  and  con- 
secrated in  an  extraordinary  manner,  was  constituted 
the  temporary  high'priest,  to  officiate  in  the  consecra- 
tion of  Aaron  and  his  sons.  They  saw  therefore  the 
person  of  a  mediator  interposing  between  themselves 
and  God.  They  saw  an  extraordinary  priesthood, 
conjoined  to  legislative  authority,  residing  in  their  bro- 
ther, the  man  whom  God  chose,  and  from  whom  their 
lionor  immediately  flowed  ;  they  saw  an  image  of  the 
station  they  were  henceforth  to  occupy,  and  the  pur- 
poses which  they  were  to  fulfil  towards  the  whole  na- 
tion. Moses  was  between  God  and  them,  they  were 
to  be  between  God  and  the  people.  He  offered  sacri- 
fice to  make  atonement  for  them,  they  were  to  offer 
sacrifice  to  make  reconciliation  for  the  sins  of  all  Is- 
rael. And  in  this  we  see  a  priesthood  more  ancient  and 
more  honorable  than  that  of  Aaron,  from  which  it  de- 
rives its  existence,  dignity  and  use,  and  in  which  it  is 
now  absorbed. 

As  nothing  is  unimportant  on  this  subject,  nothing 
but  what  has  a  significancy,  though  that  significaucy 


LECT.    X.  HISTORY  OF  AARON,  oS\ 

we  arc  unable  in  every  instance  to  discover,  we  find 
the  sacred  liistorian  enterinj^  into  a  minute  detail  and 
description  of  the  sacerduta!  robes  in  wliich,  however, 
it  IS  not  our  purpose  to  lollow  him,  as  we  would  rather 
suggest  idi;as  than  repeat  words,  aim  at  instruction 
rather  than  indulge  in  speculation,  and  without  pre- 
tending to  explain  every  thing,  would  aim  at  the  praise 
of  inculcating  useful  truth. 

Tlie  vestments  for  the  priests  are  distinguished  by 
the  term  holj/  :  "Thou  shall  make  the  holy  g;unienLs 
ibr  Aaron."  "Thoushalt  put  upon  Aaron  the //o/j/ 
garments,  and  anoint  him,  and  sanctify  him;  that  he 
may  minister  unto  me  in  tlie  priest's  otiice,"  Kxod. 
xl.  13.  Now  this  epithet  must  undoubtedly  rd't^r  to 
the  nature  of  that  pure  and  perfect  Being  in  whose 
worship  they  were  employed  ;  to  the  sacredness  otthe 
character  which  was  invested  with  them ;  and  to  t'na 
spotless  purity  of  Him,  whose  person  was  here  by  [)ie- 
ligured,  and  whose  seanctity,  independent  of  gar- 
ments of  such  a  texture  and  <juality,  consi.stcj]  jn  a 
total  freedom  from  moral  pollution,  *'  who  did  no  sin, 
neither  was  guile  found  in  his  mouth."  The  vestments 
of  the  Israelitish  high-priest,  however  splendid,  could 
jiot  but  cover  much  weakness  and  imperfection.  Like 
the  dispensation  which  enjoined  them,  they  had  only 
**  a  shadow  of  good  things  to  come,  and  could  never 
make  the  con;ers  thereunto  peifect."  But  even  in  a 
moral  and  religious  view,  surely  they  were  not  vvirh- 
out  their  use.  They  were  a  constant  and  atfectionate 
admonition  from  God  to  the  persons  who  wore  them  ; 
saying,  "  Be  ye  holy  for  I  am  holy."  They  were  a 
constant  and  pathetic  admonition  to  the  people;  say- 
ing, "  I  will  be  sanctified  in  all  them  that  dr«w  nigh 
unto  me."  They  are  an  everlasting  admonition  to  the 
christian  world,  who  are  all  kings  and  priesls  unto 
God,  that  they  are  called  and  engaged  "  to  lioliness 
in  all  manner  of  conversation."  If  times  and  places, 
and  dress,  serve  as  guards  to  virtue,  if  they  preserve 


582  HI-STORY  OF   AARON.  LECT.  X. 

fleceucy,  and  prevent  vice,  do  they  not  answer  a  valu- 
able and  important  purpose  to  mankind  ?  In  perfect 
tronformily  to  this  idea,  the  loftiest  and  most  conspi- 
cuous article  of  the  high-priest's  dress,  was  a  plate  of 
pure  gold,  affixed  with  a  blue  lace  to  the  fore  front  of 
the  mitre,  having  engraved  upon  it  this  remarkable  in- 
scription, in  order  to  be  seen  and  read  of  all  men  : 
*'  Holiness  to  the  Lordr  Thereby  the  wearer  became 
*'  as  a  city  that  is  set  on  a  hill,  which  cannot  be  hid," 
Matt.  V.  14  :  and  this  bright  memorial  incessantly, 
though  silently,  proclaimed  to  the  eye,  to  the  heart, 
lo  the  conscience,  "a  holy  God,  a  holy  service,  a 
holy  minister,  a  holy  people,  a  holy  covenant.'' 

We  accordingly  observe  the  strictest  attention  to 
external  decorum  run  through  the  whole  of  this  divine 
institution.  The  eye  being  one  of  the  great  avenues  to 
the  soul,  guilt  being  the  parent  of  shame,  and  the  dis- 
pensations  of  the  divine  wisdom  and  mercy  being 
adapted  to  the  condition  and  character  of  men,  as 
they  are,  depraved  and  degraded  by  sin,  not  as  man 
was,  pure  and  perfect  from  the  hand  of  his  Creator, 
the  heart  and  conscience  must  be  addressed  through 
the  senses. 

The  next  most  observable  and  significant  part  of 
Aaron's  dress,  was  the  splendid  breast-plate,  con- 
sisting of  twelve  several  precious  stones  set  in  gold, 
inscribed  with  the  names  of  the  twelve  tribes  in  their 
order;  placed  externally  uposi  the  seat  of  the  heart, 
to  keep  forever  alive,  a  tender  concern  about  the 
whole  Israel  of  God,  to  remind  Aaron  and  his  sons 
forever,  that  they  weie  elevated  to  this  high  station, 
not  for  their  own  sakes  merely,  but  to  be  a  public 
benefit.  Jt  aimed  at  producing  a  most  iii;  port  ant  ef- 
iect  on  three  different  sorts  of  persons,  and  was  well 
calculated  for  this  purpose.  It  presented  unto  God, 
according  to  his  own  ordinance,  a  memorial  of  his 
covenant  with  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  and  their 
seed  after  them.     It  taught  the  high-priest  to  consider 


LECT.  X.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  58.? 

the  case  of  tiie  i>co|)le  us  l>is  own,  to  regard  tliom 
with  impartial,  uiiclivided  ati'ectioii,  to  be  uatchfully 
attentive  to  their  teni[>or;i!,  but  es{)ecially  to  their  spir- 
itual cooct-rns,  lo  vvresilt;  and  make  supplication  in 
their  behaU.  It  inspired  tlie  peoj)le  with  atlect ion  an<l 
gratitude  to  the  man,  whose  whole  hfe  and  labors  were 
devoted  to  their  service,  who  watched  tor  their  souls 
who  had  renounced  an  eartiily  portion  among  his  breth- 
ren, and  all  the  gainhd  walks  of  life,  to  be  subservient 
to  their  best  interests.  It  formed  a  most  endearinir 
bond  of  union  between  them  who  were  administred 
unto,  and  them  who  miiiistrcd.  It  formed  a  most 
endearing  bond  of  union  among  the  tribes  themselves. 
Twelve  gems  of  various  complexions,  set  iu  two  dif- 
ferent frames,  composed  nevertheless  but  one  breast- 
plate ;  so  twelve  tribes  constituted  but  one  congrega- 
tion, one  church,  one  Israel.  The  loss  of  any  one 
must  iiave  marred  and  destroyed  the  whole:  tended 
to  diminish  its  lustre,  to  impair  its  strength.  It  taught 
them  to  love  as  brethren  the  c[)ildren  of  one  father, 
the  worshippers  of  one  God,  It  inspired  contidence  in 
the  care  and  protection  of  that  God.  They  saw  their 
representative  bearing  upon  his  heart,  into  the  holy- 
place,  their  names  and  their  condition.  They  had  the 
consolation  of  reflecting  that  their  memorial  would  as- 
cend to  heaven,  with  the  sweet  perfume  of  that  incense 
which  he  daily  burned  upon  the  golden  altar.  And 
the  whole  looked  forward  to  the  day,  to  the  office,  to- 
the  person,  to  the  work  of  Him,  of  whom,  and  of  whose 
body,  the  church,  Isaiah  thus  speaks  in  prophetic  vi- 
sion :  *'  But  Zion  said,  The  Lord  has  forsaken  me  ,and 
my  Lord  hath  forgotten  me.  Can  a  woman  forget 
her  sucking  child,  that  she  should  not  have  compas- 
sion on  the  son  of  her  womb }  yea,  they  may  forget,^ 
yet  will  I  not  forget  thee.  Behold  I  have  graven  thee 
upon  the  palms  of  my  hands  ;  thy  walls  are  continu- 
ally before  me;"  Isa.  xlix,  14...  16.  and  who  thus  speaks 
of  himself,  *'  Those  that  thou  gavest  me  1  have  kept. 


384  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT.  X. 

H(j]y  Father,  keep  through  thine  own  name  those 
ivhotn  thou  hast  given  me,  that  they  may  be  one,  as 
tlion  Father  art  in  me,  aud  1  in  thee  ;  that  they  also 
may  be  one  in  us  ;  that  the  world  may  believe  that 
thou  ha.st  sent  me.  And  the  glory  which  thou  gavest 
me  I  have  given  them  ;  that  they  may  be  one,  even  as 
we  are  one  ;  I  in  them  and  ihou  in  me,  that  they  may 
be  made  jjerfect  in  one,  and  that  the  world  may  know 
that  thou  liast  sent  me,  and  hast  loved  them,  as  thou 
hast  loved  me.  Father,  I  will  that  ihey  also  whom 
ihou  hast  given  me,  be  with  me  where  I  am  ;  that  they 
may  behold  my  glory  which  thou  hast  given  me  :  tor 
thou  lo^rdst  me  before  the  foundation  of  the  world," 
John  xvii.  1  1,  \'2,  21. ..24  ;  and  of  whom  the  apostle 
tiii>s  speaks,  "  Who  shall  lay  any  thing  to  the  charge 
of  God's  elect.?  It  is  God  tliat  justitieth  :  who  is  he 
thatcondemneth  }  It  is  Christ  that  died,  yea,  rather 
that  is  risen  again,  who  is  even  at  the  right  hand  of 
God,  wliO  also  maketh  intercession  for  us,"  Rom.  viii. 
33,  34.  Hence  christians  are  united  in  still  dearer 
bonds,  animated  with  sujierior  confidence,  secured  by 
a  iirmer  and  more  durable  covenant.  Hence  christian 
ministers  are  encouraged  with  greater  boldness,  with 
more  ardent  importunity,  with  more  assured  hope  of 
success,  to  draw  nigh  to  the  throne  of  grace,  as  for 
tiicmsclves,  sofbrsmiul  and  wretched  creatures  of  eve- 
ry description. 

Under  the  gospel  dispensation  every  hour  is  the 
hour  of  incense,  every  believer  a  minister  of  the  sanctu- 
ary, every  individual,  a  name  engraven  upon  the  heart 
of  the  great ''  Apostle  and  High-Priest  of  our  profes- 
sion," and  recorded  in  "  the  Lamb's  book  of  life,  among 
the  living  in  Jerusalem." 

The  other  particulars  of  Aaron's  ofiicial  dress,  we 
shall  not  now  stop  to  commemorate  :  partly,  because 
we  have  not  a  distinct  idea  of  them,  and  partly,  be- 
cause throuuh  such  a  thick  cloud  as  time,  change  of 
manners^  and  tlic  general  disuse  of  the  sacred  language 


LECT.  X.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  385 

have  interposed,  it  is  diftlcult,  if  not  impossible,  to  dis- 
cover their  meaning  and  import,  with  reference  to  the 
evangehcal  dispensation  ;  in  which  great  part  of  the 
beauty,  excellency  and  usefulness  of  the  Mosaic  eco- 
nomy consists. 

The  ceremonies  of  Aaron's  inatiguration,  were  in  a 
high  degree  solemn  and  august.  They  were  performed 
by  Moses  himself,  in  the  most  public  manner.  Aaron 
and  his  sons  were  conducted  to  the  door  of  the  taber- 
nacle of  the  congregation,  in  the  presence  of  a  public 
assembly  called  for  the  purpose  ;  were  stripped  of  their 
usual  garments,  and  washed  with  water.  He  was 
then  arrayed  in  the  several  parts  of  the  sacerdotal  ha- 
bit, in  their  order.  The  holy  vessels  of  the  sanctuary, 
and  all  its  sacred  utensils,  were  then,  one  after  ano- 
ther, anointed  with  the  holy  oil  of  consecration  ;  and, 
Jast  of  all,  Aaron  himself,  the  living  instrument  of  di- 
vine vvorsliip,  was  set  apart  to  his  momentous  charge, 
by  a  copious  sprinkling  of  the  same  sacred  perfume. 
The  favor  of  this  odorous  compound  must  have  been 
extremely  grateful  to  the  sense,  is  evident  from  the 
lofty  terms  in  which  David  speaks  of  it,  and  the  sub- 
ject which  he  illustrates  by  it..."  Behold,  how  good 
and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together 
in  unity  I  It  is  like  the  precious  ointment  upon  the 
head  that  ran  down  upon  the  beard,  even  Aaron's 
beard;  that  went  down  to  the  skirts  of  his  garments," 
Psahii  cxxxiii.  1,  12. 

The  sons  were  then  invested  with  their  proper  habits, 
and  a  thr-  e-fold  sacrihce  was  performed  :  a  bullock 
for  a  sin-oifering;  a  ram  for  a  burnt-ofl'ering;  and  a 
second,  denominatied  the  ram  of  consecration-  With- 
out going  into  a  minute  detail,  or  pretending  to  explain 
the  >pecific  difference,  use,  and  end  of  each,  we  ob- 
serve in  general,  that  by  the  ceremony  of  the  impo- 
sition of  Aaron's  hands  and  those  of  his  sons  upon  the 
head  of  the  victim,  a  solemn  wish  was  expressed,  that 
their  guilt  might  be  transferred  and  imputed  to  the  vic- 

VOL.    II,  5  D 


,5S5  HISTORY  OF  AAROUr.  LECT.  i. 

Jim  an:i  its  blood  accepted  as  a  ransom  for  their  for- 
ieited  lives.  Here,  then,  was  the  innocent  suffering 
i'or  the  guilty  j  the  substitute,  not  the  criminal  him- 
.seh'',  bleeding  and  dying;  so  that  the  very  form  of 
tiieir  consecration  taught  the  necessity  of  atonement, 
and  pointed  to  Him  whom  "  it  pleased  the  Lord  to 
bruise,  and  to  put  him  to  grief;  and  who  was  wounded 
fur  our  transgressions,  was  bruised  for  our  iniquities : 
the  cliastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  him ;  and 
with  his  stripes  we  are  healed,"  Isai.  liii.  5. 

The  fiiiit  of  the  three  sacrifices,  or  the  sin-offering, 
seems  to  have  been  intended  as  a  public  and  explicit 
ackaowledgment  of  guilt,  and  the  expiation  of  it. 
Tfle  second,  that  is,  the  burnt-offering,  was  the  token 
of  the  divine  favor  towards  them,  and  of  his  gracious 
acceptance  of  their  persons  and  services  :  and  the  third, 
the  ram  of  consecration,  part  of  which  was  eaten  by 
the  priests  in  the  holy  place,  was  the  ratification  of 
God's  covenant  of  peace  with  them,  and  the  emblem 
of  perfect  reconciliation  and  friendship;  sitting  af  one 
common  table  being  the  most  express  declaration  of 
unioti  and  good  will  among  men.  God  was  pleased 
to  exhibit  a  most  unequivocal  proof  of  his  being  well 
pleased  with  the  whole  transaction;  for  when  every 
thing  was  arranged  according  to  the  form  prescribed 
in  the  mount,  fire  from  the  Lord  seized  and  consumed 
the  burnt-offering  on  the  altar.  The  sin-offering 
Moses  burnt  with  material  fire,  without  the  camp  ; 
but  the  sacred  flame  from  heaven  laid  hold  of  the  sacri- 
fice of  pardon  and  acceptance.  In  vain  do  we  look 
for  the  marks  of  grace  and  favor  from  above ;  insensi- 
ble must  we  be  to  the  genial,  penetrating  flame  of 
love,  unless  our  repentings  be  kindled  together.  When 
we  have  been  enabled  to  do  our  duty,  then  may  we 
warrantably  expect  that  God  will  appear  for  us. 

It  does  not  appear  whether  this  striking  interposition 
had  been  previously  announced  to  the  assembly,  or  whe- 
ther it  to«k  them  by  gurprise.  In  either  case,  it  mustbave 


LECT,  X.  HISTORY  OF  AAROV.  5t>7 

made  a  deep  impression  on  the  mind  of  every  behold- 
er. Were  they  taught  to  expect  it  r  With  what  anxi- 
ety may  we  suppose  every  eye  bent  on  the  altar  and 
the  sacrifice,  waiting  the  eventful  moment  which  was 
to  evince  that  God  was  among  them  of  a  truth  ;  but 
ijj  a  way  which  should  insi)ire  reverence  as  well  as  joy. 
l)id  it  overtake  them  unawares.''  What  surlden  con- 
sternation, wliat  alarming  apprehensions  !  The  expres- 
sion was  [jerteciiy  natural  in  either  case  ;  *'  vvhich  when 
all  the  [)eople  saw,  they  shouted,  and  fell  on  iheir 
faces,"  Levit.  ix.  'J4. 

Tnus  was  the  first  high- priest  of  the  Hebrew  nalion. 
inducted  into  his  office.  Thus  explicitly  were  laid 
dovvi)  the  principles,  form,  design  and  use  of  the  most 
ancient  civil  and  religious  polity  in  the  world.  While 
the  first  beginnings  of  religion  and  governnurit,  in 
every  other  nation  under  heiivcn,  lie  buried  in  darl<ness, 
conlusion  and  contradiction  ^  aided  by  light  from  hea-. 
ven,  we  can  trace  up  to  its  very  source,  the  origin  o!  a 
nation  the  most  singular  in  the  annals  of  njankiiid  ; 
raised  out  of  an  ancient  pair,  and  "  them  as  good  as 
dead  ;"  repeatedly  threatened  with  utter  extinction, 
during  the  first  ages  of  their  existence  ;  but  miracu- 
lously preserved  in  the  very  jaws  of  destruction  :  form- 
ed for  conquest,  eminence  and  empire,  in  a  desert ; 
raised,  after  many  struggles  and  revolutions,  to  a  pitciv 
of  afiluence  and  grandeur,  unparalleled  in  history,  and 
declming  again  as  fast  into  contempt  and  obscurity: 
but,  even  in  contempt  and  obscurity,  supported,  pre- 
served, fenced  on  every  side. ..In  captivity,  utiilissolvt-d; 
in  the  wreck  of  empire  maintained,  upheld,  rescued, 
restored  !  At  length,  we  behold  them  involved  in  one 
mighty  ruin,  driven  from  their  capital  and  their  coun- 
try :  their  temple,  the  great  bond  of  union,  razed 
from  the  foundation  :  and  themselves  henceforward 
scattered  among  the  nations,  during  a  perioil  of  neiij* 
two  thousand  years.  And  yet,  by  a  strange  ar.d  uu 
accountable  inteiferencc  of  }-*rovidence,  th'.ugh  ha  ed. 


S8S  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT.    X. 

despised  and  persecuted  of  all  men,  nnd  evidently  un- 
der the  displeasure  of  Heaven,  v\e  behold  them  preserv- 
ed from  total  anniljiiation  and  oblivion  j  kept  distinct 
from  all  men  ;  as  much  a  separate  people,  as  in  the 
zenith  of  their  glory,  under  the  reign  of  David  and  So- 
lomon ;  the  subjects,  perhaps,  of  a  revolution  greater 
and  more  important  than  any  they  have  already  un- 
dergone :  reserved,  it  may  be,  to  be  the  'ast  grand 
trophy  of  the  Redeemer's  triumph,  the  coiiciuding  evi- 
dence of  the  truth  of  Christianity,  the  final  monument 
of  the  riches  of  free  sovereign  grace  I  And  need  v/e 
ask,  who  conducted  all  these  movements,  whose  plea- 
sure was  fulfilled  by  all  these  events,  whose  glory 
shines  in  all  these  successive  changes,  in  all  these  open- 
ing prospects  ?  A  voice  from  heaven  replies, "  1  the 
Lord,  wonderful  in  counsel,  and  excellent  in  working  ; 
wise  in  heart,  and  mighty  in  strength.  I  see  the  end 
from  the  beginning  ;  my  counsel  shall  stand." 

...When  this  great  mystery  shall  be  finished,  the 
mighty  chain  extended,  the  connection  and  depen- 
dence of  link  upon  link  discerned,  hell  shall  be  con- 
founded, the  inhabitants  of  the  world  astonished,  an- 
gels rejoice,  and  the  praise  of  God  ascend  from  every 
tongue. 

The  solemn  service  being  over,  we  may  suppose 
Aaron  and  liis  family  retiring  with  the  complacency 
of  good  minds,  rejoicing  in  the  honor  put  upon  them, 
in  the  eyes  of  all  Israel;  in  the  prospect  of  a  dignity 
higher  than  the  pomp  of  kings,  which  was  about  to  de- 
scend to  their  latest  posterity  ;  and,  above  all,  in  that 
open  declaration  of  the  divine  approbation,  the  celes- 
tial fire  that  consumed  the  fat  of  their  sacrifice.  13ut, 
alas  I  what  condition  of  humanity  admits  of  certain, 
unmixed,  or  lasting  felicity  ?  That  useful,  necessary, 
awful  element,  which  signally  interposed  to  declare 
the  choice  of  Heaven,  speedily  interposes  to  punish 
and  to  afflict  that  chosen   family,    and  to  serve  as  a 


LECT.    X.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  38D 

warning,  forrver,  that  *'  God  will  be  sanctifiel    in  all 
lliem  that  draw  nigh  to  him." 

The  remaining  incidents  of  the  high- priest's  life, 
which  we  have  on  record,  aie  bnt  lew  in  nnmuer,  but 
they  are  instructive,  and  -interesting,  as  we  hope  to 
make  appear,  if  God  shall  be  pleased  to  indulge  us  witjj 
another  opportunity   of  this  kind. 

In  reviewing  the  subject,  we  observe  what  it  is  that 
constitutes  the  ])erfect  character  of  a  priest  of  the  most 
high  God  ;  Holiness  to  (he  Lord  on  tlie  ibrehead  ;  up- 
permost, overlooking  all,  directing  all  j  and  Israel  rest- 
ing upon  the  heart. 

The  ministers  of  religion  are,  by  their  odice  and 
station,  perpetually  admonished  to  shun  every  appear- 
ance of  what  is  mean,  seliish  or  ungenerous.  They 
are  appointed  of  God  to  aid,  instruct  and  comfort 
their  tisllovv-creatures  ;  to  promote  their  best  interests  ; 
to  cherish  in  them  the  best  and  noblest  j>rincipies  of 
their  nature  :  and  tliey  are  urged  to  perform  tliis,  by 
the  highest  considerations  which  the  human  uiiiid  can 
feel.  Whatever  be  the  dispensation,  the  spirit  of  the 
office  and  the  nature  of  the  service  are  the  same. 
They  stand  as  mediators  between  God  and  men. 
They  bear  on  their  hearts  the  names,  the  infirmities, 
the  wants,  the  distresses,  the  sorrows,  the  joys  of 
the  people  ;  and  carry  them  with  sympathy  and  affec- 
tion to  the  throne  of  grace :  and  tiiey  return  from 
thence  bringing  on  their  lips  the  "  answer  of  peace." 
They  lose  themselves  in  labors  of  love  ;  they  sink  every 
unworthy  aim,  every  low  pursuit,  in  seeking  the  glory 
of  God,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  Israel  of  God. 
The  minister  who  understands,  feels  and  performs  his 
duty,  is  one  of  the  most  exalted  of  beings. 

Aaron  and  his  sons  were  consecrated  to  the  service 
of  God,  and  of  the  congregation,  by  tlie  sprinkling  of 
blood  applied  to  the  ear,  the  hand,  the  toot.  Thus 
their  whole  faculties  were  claimed  by  their  great  Au- 
thor, and  were  thus  devoted  to  him  :  and  the  svmbol 


3i)0  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LSCT.  X. 

of  atonement  became  the  seal  of  their  dedication. 
And  thus  every  christian  becomes  a  priest  unto  the 
most  high  God,  redeemed  by  blood,  set  apart  by  the 
washing  of  regeneration,  and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  "  Wash  me.  Lord,  and  I  shall  be  clean, 
sprinkle  me,  and  I  shall  be  whiter  than  snow  :"  "  Not 
my  feet  only,  but  also  my  hands  and  my  head."  "  Un- 
to him  that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in 
his  own  blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  un- 
to God  and  his  Father;  to  him  be  glory  and  dominion 
forever  and  ever.     Amen."  Rev.  i.  5,  6. 

Every  high-priest  taken  from  among  men,  is  ordained 
for  men  in  things  pertaining  to  God,  that  he  may  of- 
fer both  gifts  and  sacrifices  for  sins:  who  can  have 
compassion  on  the  ignorant,  and  on  them  that  are  out 
of  ihe  way  ;  for  that  he  himself  also  is  compassed  with 
infirmity,"  Heb.  v.  1,2;  but  "  if  perfection  were  by 
the  Levitical  priesthood,  (for  under  it  the  people  re- 
ceived the  law)  what  further  need  was  there,  that  ano- 
ther priest  should  rise  after  the  order  of  Melchisedec, 
and  not  be  called  after  the  order  of  Aaron  ?"  Heb.  vii, 
11.. .."But  Christ  being  come  an  high-priest  of 
good  things  to  coine,  by  a  greater  and  more  perfect 
tabernacle,  not  made  with  hands,  that  is  to  say,  not  of 
this  building ;  neither  by  the  blood  of  goats  and  calves, 
but  by  his  own  blood,  he  entered  in  once  into  the  holy 
place,  having  obtained  eternal  iedemption  ior  us.  For 
if  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats,  and  the  ashes  of  an 
heifer  sprinkling  the  unclean,  sanctifieth  to  the  purify- 
ing of  the  flesh ;  how  much  more  .shall  the  blood  of 
Christ,  who,  through  the  eternal  Spirit,  offered  himsolf 
without  spot  to  God,  purge  your  conscience  Irom  dead 
works  to  serve  the  living  God  .''"  Heb.  ix.  1 1...14 

The  hre  once  kindled  supernaturally  by  the  celestial 
flame,  was  to  be  kept  alive  by  human  care  and  atien- 
tion.  Miraculous  interpositions  of  Providence  are 
not  to  he  expected,  as  an  indulgence  to  ca^elessne^s  and 
sloth.     He  only  who   diligently  cxticises  the   powers 


LECT.  X. 


HISTORY  OF  AARON. 


391 


which  God  has  given  him,  uho  employs  the  means 
which  Providence  has  funii.shcd,  and  which  conscience 
approve^;,  can  with  confidence  look  up  to  lieaven,  and 
rejoice  in  hope  of  divine  assistance.  Would  you  that 
the  sacred  llame  of  devotion,  of  charity,  should  live  in 
your  heart,  should  glow  upon  your  tongue,  resort  dai- 
ly to  the  altar  of  God,  and  preserve  its  activity  by  "a 
live  coal"  from  tlience.  Then  your  face  shall  shine, 
then  your  lips  shall  overflow  with  the  law  of  kindness, 
then  your  hand  shall  open  to  the  sons  of  want,  then 
you  shall  "  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable,  and  full  of 
glory." 


HISTORY   OF  AARON. 


LECTURE  XI. 


And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  Aaron  in  Mount 
llor,  bij  [lie  coast  of  the  land  of  Edom,  saying,  Aaron 
shall  be  gathered  tinto  his  people  :  for  he  shall  not  en- 
ter into  the  landzvhich  I  have  given  nnto  the  children 
of  Israel,  because  ye  rebelled  against  my  zvord  at  the 
ivatcr  of  Meribah.  Take  Aaron  and  Eleazar  his 
son,  and  bring  them  up  nnto  Mount  Ilor :  and  strip 
Ai^-on  of  his  garments,  a?id  put  the?n  upon  Eleazar 
his  son :  and  Aaron  shall  be  gathered  unto  his  people, 
and  sliall  die  there.  And  Moses  did  as  the  Lord  com- 
manded :  and  they  loent  up  into  Mount  Hor,  in  the 
sight  of  all  the  congregation.  And  Moses  stripped 
Aaron  of  his  garments,  and  put  them  upon  Eleazar 
bis  son  :  and  Aaron  died  there  in  the  top  of  the 
mount.  And  Moses  and  Eleazar  came  down  from 
the  mount.  And  zvhen  all  the  congregation  saw  that 
Aaron  zcas  dead,  t hey  mourned  for  Aaron  thirty  days, 
even  all  the  house  of  Israel... Numbers  xx.  2^.. .29. 

WERE  it  not  that  life  and  immortarty  have  been 
brought  to  light  by  the  gospel,  human  life  must 
appear  in  the  eye  of  sober  reason,  a  trifling  scene  of 
vanity  and  impertinence.  Wherefore  drops  that  babe 
into  the  grave  as  soon  as  he  is  born  ?  Why  was  the 
wretched  mother  torn  with  anguish  to  bring  him  into 
the  world  ?  Was  it  only  to  be  torn  with  more  cruel  an- 
guish, -to    behold  him  prematurely    snatched   out  of 


LICT.  XI.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  ^9^ 

it  again  ?  Why  is  that  old  ofleiuler  permitted  to  live, 
a  burden  upon  the  earth,  the  derision,  hatred,  and 
scorn  of  mankind  ?  Why  does  that  minion  "  fVet  and 
strut  his  hour  upon  the  stage,"  arrayed  in  the  glitter 
of  rovailv?  Wherefore  strides  that  barbarian  I'rom 
conquest  to  conquest,  from  continent  to  continent  ? 
Why  pine«  modest  worth  in  indigence  and  obscurity, 
and  wherefore,  at  length,  perishes  it  on  a  dunghill  ? 
These,  and  a  thousand  such  questions  that  might  be 
asked,  tiie  doctrine  of  imuiortaiity  and  of  a  judgment 
to  come,  resolves  in  a  moment.  **  We  know  but  in 
part,  we  see  in  a  glass  darkly."  What  the  great  Lord 
of  nature,  providence  and  grace  doth,  we  know  not 
now,  but  we  shall  know  hereafter. 

The  brevity  and  extension  of  life,  difference  of  rank, 
talent,  office  and  condition,  variety  of  fortune  and 
success,  acquire  an  importance  not  their  own  by  their 
influence  on  character  and  moral  conduct,  by  the 
changes  which  they  produce  on  the  soul  of  a  man,  by 
their  reaching  forward  into  eternity,  and  by  produc^ 
ing  effects  which  no  length  of  duration  can  ever  alter. 

Men  die,  offices  pass  from  hand  to  hand,  dispensa- 
tions change ;  but  the  purposes  of  Heaven  are  perma- 
nent, the  plans  of  Providence  are  ever  going  forward, 
and  while  one  generation  of  men  removes  to  tiiat  world 
of  spirits  from  whence  no  traveller  returns,  another 
rises  up  to  contemplate  the  wonders  of  that  wUich  now 
is,  and  to  carry  on  the  business  of  it.  Hence  wise 
and  good  men  become  not  only  concerned  about  their 
own  future  and  eternal  happiness,  but  about  the  pros- 
perity and  happiness  of  the  world,  after  they  have 
ceased  to  see  and  enjoy  it.  Hence  they  cheerfully  en- 
gage in  schemes  which  they  cannot  live  to  execute, 
and  justly  soothe  their  souls  to  peace,  in  the  prospect 
ot  a  kind  of  immortality  upon  earth.  Hence  among 
the  other  motives  to  excel  in  goodness,  this  has  a 
pleasing  and  a  powerful  influence  "  the  righteous  shall 

V-Ol.    II.  3  E 


HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT. 


be  bad  in  everlasting  remembrance,"  "  while  the  me- 
mory of  the  wicked  shall  rot,'* 

It  is  as  difficult,  to  make  the  proper  estimate  of  death 
as  of  life.     Death  is  an  undoubted  mark  of  the  diviue 
displeasure  against  sm,  and  is  indicted  as  a  punish- 
nu-nt  upon  the  guilty.     But,  like  all  the  punishments 
of  Heaven,  it  is  upon  the  whole,  and  in  the  issue,  an 
unspeakable  benefit  to  good  men.     The  just  estimate 
of  death,  then  must   depend  upon   what  we  are,  and 
upon  the  consequent    change  which  death  shall   pro- 
duce in  our  internal  character,  or  outward  condition. 
It  is  a  light  evil  to  be  stripped  of  priestly  robes,  the 
work  of  man's  hands  J  and  to  return  naked  into  the 
earth  as  we  came  Irom  it ;  it  is   a  light  thing  to  feel 
the  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  dissolving,  and  the 
bead  which  wore  tlie  mitre  or  the  crown   sinking  into 
the  dust ;  while  the  promise  of  Him  who  is  faithful  and 
true,  rears  for  us    '*  a  building  of  God,  an  house  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens,"  2  Cor.  v.  1 ; 
while  the  eye  of  faith   contemplates  that  *' crown  of 
righteousius?,    which  the  Lord  the  rghteoiis  Judge 
shall  give  at  that  day  :  and  not  to  one  only,  but  unto 
all  them  also  that  love  his  appearing,''  2  Tim.  iv.  S; 
assured  that  "  to  be  absent  from  the  body  is  to  be 
present  with  the  Lord.'' 

If  ever  there  was  an  enviable  domestic  situation,  it 
was  that  of  Aaron  elevated  to  the  priesthood.  Think 
of  the  honest  pride  of  honorable  alliance  :  and  who 
wonkl  not  have  been  proud  of  such  a  brother  as  Mo- 
ses ?  Reflect  on  an  office  of  the  highest  dignity  and 
respect,  procured  not  by  cabal  and  intrigue,  but  be- 
„  stowed  by  the  voluntary  appointment  of  Him  who  is 
the  source  of  all  honor.  A  suitable  provision  like- 
wise made  for  the  support  of  that  dignity,  and  an  ex- 
ternal habit  annexed  to  it,  that  could  not  fail  to  at- 
tract notice  and  reverence.  The  sacred  office  was  en- 
tailed upon  him  and  his  family  forever,  and  that  fa- 
mily built  up  by   four  hopeful  sous,  coadjutors  and 


LECT.  XI.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  Sg5 

successors  :  and,  to  crown  the  whole,  these  pleasing, 
flattering  circumstances  were  crowned  with  an  o,.en, 
unequivocal,  indubitable  mark  of  the  divine  approba- 
tion. The  lire  ol"  heaven  caii2;ht  hold  of  their  burnt- 
oll'ering,  and  kindled  a  flame  never  to  be  fjuenched. 
But  alas,  how  short-lived  was  this  tranquillity  !  The 
sons  ol  Aaron  are  hardly  consecrated  to  their  oflice, 
when  the  two  eldest  profane  and  disgrace  it.  Celestial 
fire  has  scarcely  proclaimed  the  favor  and  acceptance 
of  God,  when  with  unhallovA  ed  fire,  which  he  com- 
manded nor,  they  defile  his  altar  and  his  service:  and 
thereby  call  down  a  second  time  tire  from  above,  to 
avenge  a  holy  and  righteous  God,  as  before  to  display 
the  grace  of  Him  who  is  good  and  merciful.  The 
notoriety  of  the  late  transactions,  the  sacredness  of 
their  character,  and  the  distinguished  regard  of  Hea- 
ven expressed  toward  them,  greatly  enliance  the  atro- 
ciousness  of  their  guilt,  and  justify  the  severity  of  their 
punishment. 

This  tragical  event  is  thus  recorded  by  Moses, 
whose  method  it  is  neither  to  extenuate,  nor  to  set 
down  aught  in  malice.  "  And  Nadab  and  Abihu,  the 
sons  ot  Aaron,  took  either  of  them  his  censer,  and  put 
fire  therein,  and  put  incense  thereon,  and  offered 
strange  fire  belore  the  Lord,  which  he  commanded 
them  not.  And  there  went  out  fire  from  the  Lord, 
and  devoured  them,  and  they  died  before  the  Lord," 
Lev.  X.  1,2.  I  he  words  are  lew,  but  they  convey  a 
full  and  distinct  idea  of  the  guilt  of  the  parties ;  though 
by  attending  to  the  context,  we  shall  have  reason  to 
conclude  their  crime  was  of  a  very  complex  nature. 
And  surely  it  could  be  no  common  transgression  which 
drew  down  a  judgment  so  dreadful.  Bishop  Patrick 
is  of  opinion. that  Nadab  and  Abihu  had  r»^ndered  them- 
selves incapable  of  doing  their  duty  by  intemperance  j 
that  they  indulged  in  the  delicacies  of  the  sacrifice  to 
a  criminal  excess,  till  they  were  incapable  of  putting  a 
difference  between  holy  and  unholy,  and  between  cleaa 


SQG  history  of  AARON.  LECT.    XI. 

and  unclean.  This  conjecture  is  founded  upon  the 
injunction  which  immediately  follows  the  narration  of 
this  dismal  story  in  the  nintji  and  tenth  verses.  "  Do 
not  drink  wine  nor  strong  drink,  thou  nor  thy  sons 
with  thee,  when  ye  go  into  tlie  tabernacle  of  the  con- 
gregation ;  lest  ye  die:  it  shall  be  a  statute  forever, 
throughout  your  generations  ;  and  that  ye  may  put  dif- 
ference between  holy  and  unholy,  and  between  un- 
clean and  clean."  If  there  be  truth  in  this  conjec- 
ture, it  is  a  melancholy  proof  that  the  best  things  are 
most  liable  to  abuse,  that  the  brutal  part  of  our  na- 
ture is  ever  ready  to  run  away  with  the  rational  :  that 
as  God  is  continually  employing  himself  in  bringing 
good  out  of  evi!,  so  men  are  forever  perverselj'  em- 
ploying themselves  in  bringing  evil  out  of  good. 

Others  have  charged  upon  these  two  sons  of  Aaron, 
the  crimir;ality  of  attempting  to  enter  the  most  holy 
place,  which  was  not  permitted  but  to  the  high-priest, 
and  that  only  at  certain  stated  times.  This  chargeis  es- 
tablished in  the  following  manner.  In  the  passage  we 
have  quoted,  it  is  said,  that  it  was  before  the  Lord  that 
Nadab  and  Abihu  otTered  incense  with  strange  tire. 
Upon  comparing  this  with  what  is  recorded  in  the  six- 
teenth cliapter  in  the  first  and  second  verses,  where 
Moses  recapitulates  this  sad  event,  we  find  it  added, 
"  The  Lord  said  unto  Moses,  Speak  unto  Aaron  thy 
brother,  that  he  come  not  at  all  times  into  the  holy 
j'lace,  within  the  veil  before  the  mercy -seat,  which  is 
upon  the  ark  ;  that  he  die  not  :  for  I  will  appear  in  the 
cloud  upon  the  mercy-seat."  Htnce  it  has  been  in- 
ferred that  the  twoj-oung  men,  uncailed,  unauthorized, 
presumed  to  enter  that  august  department  of  the  ta- 
bernacle, assuming  to  themselves  privileges  that  be- 
JoDged  only  to  the  supreme  priesthood,  which  in  their 
father's  life  time  it  was  unlawful  to  intermeddle  with, 
and  which  even  he  himself  durst  not  at  all  times  ex- 
ercise. But  though  neither  of  these  suppositions  be 
improbable,  we  have  no  occasion  to    go  so  far  for  a 


LECT.  XT.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  39T 

discovery  of  ihcir  crime,  nor  to  acrount,  for  the  severi- 
ty with  which  it  v.as  punished.     The  sin  ofNadab  and 
Abiljii   consisted   simply  in  this,    ihey   burnt   uiccnse 
with  strajige^fire.     Now  the  meaning  of  this  expres- 
sion we  shall  be  able  easily  to  collect,  by  comparing 
together  a  hvf  passages  that  have  an  obvious  connec- 
tion   and   serve  to  illustrate  and  explain  each  other. 
First,  in  Leviticus,  chapter  the   ninth,   verse  twenty- 
fourth,  it  is   said  that"  fire  from    the   Lord,"  that  is, 
either  fire  immediately  descending   from  heaven,  or 
issuing  out  of  the  cloud  that  covered  the   tabernacle, 
consumed  the  first  victims  which  Aaron  offered  for  a 
burnt-otfering.     Again. ..This  sacred  fire,  once  miracu- 
lously kindled,  was  by  a  special  ordinance  to  be  kept 
forever  alive  ;  as  we  read,  Leviticus  chapter  the  sixth, 
verses  twelfth  and  thirteenth.     Thus  the  vigilance,  at- 
tention and  care  of  man,  was  to  preserve  and  continue 
what  Providence   had  begun.     By  another  ordinance 
it  \\a^  enjoined,  that   the   incense  to  be  olTered  on  the 
day  of  atonement,  should  be  kindled  by  a  portion  of 
that  perpetual  fire.    Tliiswe  read  in  Leviticus,  chapter 
the  sixletnth,  verses   eleventh,  twelfth  and^  thirteenth. 
This  then  was  the  fire  which  the  Lord  commanded  to 
be  used  ;  and  of  conrse,  every  other  kind  of  fire,  how- 
ever  produced,  and  though  in  all  other  respects  ade- 
quate to   the  purpose,   was    unlawful,   forbidden     or 
strange.     This  accordingly  constituted  the  guilt,  they 
took  upon  them  to  kindle  the  incense,   which  their  of- 
fice obligt^d  them  to  burn  e^er)  evening  and  morning, 
with  a  fire  different  from  that  which  burnt  continual- 
ly on  the  altar  of  burnt-oflering  :    every   other  being 
strmige  fire,  which  the  Lord  commanded  not.     Now  it 
was  certainly  fit    and   necessary  that  such    a  crime 
should  be  punished  in  the  most    exemplary    manner. 
The  sanctity  of  the  whole  institution  was  over  at  once, 
if  the  ministers  of  it  might  with  impunity,  in  the  very 
setting  out,  presume,  to  dispense  with  its  most  august 
ceremonies.     The  rank  and    station  of  the   oflenders 


398  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  I.ECT.  XI. 

Avasa  high  aggravaiion  of  their  ofFmce.     It  was  their 
du.  V  to  have  set  an  example  of  scrupulous  regard    to 
the  known  will  of  God.     They  liad  been  adnrntled  to 
more   intimate  communion   with    God   than   olhers; 
hud  seen  more  of  the  terrors  of  his  power,  inore  of  the 
\V(jnders  of  his  grace.     Unhappy  men  !   how  had  they 
ixun  betrayed  into  an  error  so  fatal  ?  Ignt^rance  it 
<;ou{d  not  be,  the  voice  of  the  law  was  yet  .sounding  in 
their  ears.     Dared  they  to  be  careless   in  atjy    thmg 
tiiat  related  to  the  service  of  a  boiy  Go'f }  They  had 
seen   the  exactness   of  their  pi(»U5  uncle,  in   forming 
every  thing  according  to  the  pattern  shewed  him  in 
the  mount.     Was  it  indeed  a  wilful  and  deliberate  vi- 
olation of  the  law  ?  1  fear,  I  fe.  r  it  was  ;  and  dread- 
ful  was  the  expiation.     The  unhallowed  fire  of  their 
own   kindling  was  quickly  absorbed  in  a  hotter  flame  ; 
"  they  died  before  the   Lord  ;  for  there  went  out  fire 
from  the  Lord  and  devoured  them,"  I^ev.  x.  2.     Nei- 
ther their  sacred  character;  the  sacredness  of  the  place, 
nor  the  sacredness    of  the  employment,  can   protect 
ihem  from  the  keen  stroke  of  avenging  justice.    *'  Let 
•us  have  grace  whereby  we  may  serve  God  acceptably, 
with  reverence  and   godly  fear  :  for  our  God  is  a  con- 
suming fire,"  Heb.  xii.  28,    '29-      Unhappy  father  I 
What  were  now  thy  feehngji ;  bereaved  in  one  sad  day 
of  half  thy  childsen,  of  thy  first,  thy  darling  hopes  :  to 
behold  them   thus  mimaturely  cut  off,  taken  away    in 
anger  I  The  bitterness  of  death  is  not  relieved  by  <jne 
consoiitary  circumstance.     What  is  the  loss  of  children 
in  infancy,  and  falling  by  the  storke  oi'  nature,  com- 
pared to  this  ?  To  heighten  the  old  man's  afthclion,  he 
is  expressly  forbidden  to  mourn,  or  to  assist  m  the  last 
^iid  offices  of  humanity   towards  his   deceased   sons. 
Behold  him  in  mute  dejection  and  distress,  ministering 
in  the  duties  of  his  cliarge,  attentive  to  tlic  calls  of  tlie 
living,  leaving  to  others  the  care  of  burying  the  dead. 
How   severely   must  his  own  oil'enCes  !;o\v  have  been 
brought  to  his  remembrance  !   He  had  been  guilty  ol'a 


LECT.    XI.  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  S\)9 

-crime  of  oqual  or  grcator  magnitiule ;  he  had  led  the 
vviiN  in  idohitiN ,  and  presided  in  the  worship  of  a  thing 
of  his  ou  n  rabricatinn  ;  but  justice  sufl'ered  them  to 
live,  to  hve  to  see  his  own  sons  dying  far  a  crime 
similar  to  liis  own.  Alas,  what  is  prolonged  life  but 
lentilhrned  anguish  ! 

As  the  giving  of  the  law  was  fenced  round  with 
fire,  and  the  hanctity  of  the  tabernacle  worship  guard- 
ed by  a  flaming  sword,  so  the  meeker,  gentler  institu- 
tion oi'  the  gospel,  fortified  its  first  beginnings  by  ex- 
ecuting ju#lgment  on  presumptuous  sinners.  Severity 
is  the  soul  Cil  a  law,  especially  when  it  is  notified  to 
those  who  are  obliged  to  submit  to  it^  indulgence,  or 
the  appearance  of  feebleness,  are  of  the  most  danger- 
ous consequence,  especially  in  the  commencement  of 
a  new  constitution.  One  of  the  hejaldsof  the  Saviour 
of  mankind  began  his  ministry  by  a  clap  of  thunder ; 
the  first  rays  he  shot  from  his  eyes  were  mortal,  and 
the  sudden  death  of  two  false  and  perfidious  disciples 
was  the  seal  of  his  apostleship,"  Acts  v.  The  second 
coming  of  the  Lord  himself  is  to  be  "  in  flaming  fire, 
taking  vengeance  on  them  that  know  not  God,  and 
that  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesas  Christ," 
2  l^hess.  i.  8. 

Aaron  had  now  arrived  at  an  advanced  period  of 
life,  at  the  possession  of  an  office  and  rank  in  life, 
which  rendered  him  an  object  of  envy  to  some,  and  of 
veneration  to  others.  He  had  oftener  than  once  been 
corrected  by  his  own  iblly,  and  he  was  '*  the  man 
who  liad  seen  affliction  by  the  rod  of  God's  anger;" 
but  neither  the  fire  of  calamity,  nor  the  frost  of  age; 
neither  the  counsels  of  experience,  nor  the  sanctity  of 
office,  have  been  able  to  subdue  the  indwelling  corrup- 
tion ;  for  we  immediately  find  him  in  a  plot,  with  Mi- 
riam his  sister,  to  disturb  the  peace,  diminish  the  re- 
spect, and  distress  the  government  of  their  brother 
Moses.  Their  pretence  was  his  marriage  with 
an  "Ethiopian  woman;"  an  event  which  had  taken 


40i)  HISTORY  OF  AARON.  LECT.  XI. 

place  forty  v«ar8  before  j  an  union  which  had  no  im- 
morality m  it ;  which  transgressed  no  law,  for  the  law 
was  not  then  given  ;  and  against  which  God  himself 
had  not  expressed  any  displeasure ;  but  had  crowned 
it  with  the  blessing  of  children,  who  were  justly  ad- 
mitted to  Tiiiik  in  Israel. 

Their  real  cause  was  their  envy  of  the  pre-eminence, 
which  their  younger  brother  had  obtained  over  them 
in  all  things,  civil  and  sacred.  For  this,  in  spite  of  a!l 
their  art,  breaks  out  in  the  malicious  whispers  which 
they  scatter  abroad  to  blacken  their  brother's  repu- 
tation. "  Hath  the  Lord  indeed  spoken  only  by  Mo- 
ses ?  ilalhhe  not  spokea  also  byus.^*"  Numb.  xii.  2.  U 
Moses  indeed  erred  by  marrying  Jethro's  daughter, 
he  had  severely  smarted  for  it;  for  being  induced,  by 
an  improper  compliance  with  her  humor,  to  neglect  the 
circumcision  of  his  son,  he  had  nearly  paid  the  forfeit 
t)f  tljat  neglect  with  his  life,  by  the  hand  of  God  him- 
seil'i  and  now  his  good  name  is  bleeding  on  Zippo- 
rah's  account,  by  the  envenomed  tongues  of  his  own 
brofher  and  sister;  and  "  who  can  stand  before  en- 
vy r"  Who  can  think  to  escape,  if  Moses  remain  not 
unhurt  ?  Tms  attack  upon  his  fame  and  comtbri gives 
Mosts  oC'.'asion  to  deliver  his  own  euloginm  ;  and  I 
believe  it  just,  ior  he  gives  it  with  that  lovely  simpliei- 
ty,  which  characterizes  all  that  he  relates  of  himself 
or  of  others.  "  Now  the  man  Moses  was  very  meek, 
above  all  tlie  men  which  were  upon  the  face  of  the 
eartli,"  Numb.  xii.  3.  He  either  had  not  heard  the 
s'candulous  speeches  which  were  propagated  to  his  dis- 
advantage by  Aaron  and  Miriam;  or  he  pitied  and 
he  neglected  them.  Who  knows  what  length  the  mis- 
chief  might  have  gone,  had  it  not  been  heard  and 
avenged  by  the  Protector  of  injured  innocence.  "  The 
Lord  iitui'd  it."  Let  the  blauderer  hear  this  and 
tremble. 

Tiic  two  brothers  and  their  sister  are  now  summon- 
ed to  piejjciit  themselves  together  at  the  door  of  the 


lECT.  XI.  HISTORY   OF    AARON.  4.01 

tabernacle  of  the  congregation,   and  the  glory  of  the 
Lord  appears  :   and  a  voice  from  that  glory  pronounces 
aloud  an.d  at  full  length,    the  praise  of  the  man  who 
had  spoken  so  modestly  of  himself,  and  w  ho  had  been 
so  wickedly  muligncd  by  his  own  nearest  relations. 
*'  And   he  said,   Hear  now  my  words:   if  there  be  a 
prophet  among   you,   I  the  Lord   will   make   myself 
known  unto  him  in  a  vision,  and  will  speak  unto  him 
in  a  dream.     My  servant  Moses  is  not  so,  who   is 
faithful  in  all  mine  house.     With  him  will  I  speak 
mouth  to  mouth,   even  apparently,   and  not  in  dark 
speeches  ;   and  the  similitude  Oif  the  Lord  shall  he  be- 
hold :   wherefore   then  were  ye   not  afraid   to   speak 
against  my  servant  Moses?"    Numb.   xii.    6,    7,   8. 
In  many  respects  Moses  was  "  the  figure  of  Him  who 
was  to  come,"  and  in  both   were  peculiarly  verified 
the  words  of  Christ,  "  a  man's  foes  shall  be  they  of  his 
own  house,"  and,  "  a  prophet  is  not  without  honor, 
save    in   his  own  country,    and  in  his  own  house," 
Matth.  xiii.  57.     With  God  to  resent  is  to  avenge  ; 
having  reproved  the  transgressors  he  withdraws  in  an- 
ger, andlo,  the  punishment  is  already  inflicted.   "  The 
cloud  departed  from  off  the  tabernacle,    and  behold, 
Miriam  became  leprous,  white  as  snow  :   and  Aaron 
looked  upon  Miriam,  and  behold  she  was  leprous," 
Numb.  xii.  10.     A  shocking  example  of  divine  dis- 
pleasure against  one  of  the   most  odious  of   crimes. 
My  fair  hearers,  let  me  whisper  an  advice  in  your  ears. 
I  am  no  common-place  deciaim.er  against  your  sex  ; 
I  honor  it,  and  I  wish  to  improve  it ;  you  must  hear 
me  with  the  greater  attention,  and  mark  what  I  say. 
You  lie  under  a  general  imputation,    respecting  the 
vices  of  the  tongue  ;  but  general  imputations  are  for 
the  most  part  ill-founded.     I  do  n.ot  mean,  however, 
to  insinuate  that  you  are  totally  innocent,  or  more  so 
than  the  other  sex  :    for  your   aft'ections  are  eager, 
and  what  the  heart  feels,  by  the  eyes  or  the  tongue 
you    will    express ;    and    that    expression    is    some- 
x'CL.  II.  V  r 


402  HISTORY  or  aaron.  lect.  xf 

times  too  strong  for  either  piety  or  prudence.  I  mean 
to  caution  you,  at  present,  on  a  particular  fault  of  the 
tongue,  which  affects  my  own  profession,  which  is 
far  from  being  foreign  to  the  subject,  and  on  v.  hich  I 
deem  myself  both  qualified  and  entitled  to  advise  you. 
Women,  among  other  favorite  objects,  have  their 
favorite  systems  of  religion,  and  their  favorite  preachers ; 
and,  following  the  impulse  of  an  honest  aifection,  they 
are  for  establishing  their  favorite  object  on  the  ruins 
of  every  competitor.  What  is  the  consequence?  In 
the  event  of  difference  of  opinion,  or  of  attachnient, 
one  man  is  unmercifully,  unrelentingly  run  dou'n,  and 
another  is,  with  equal  want  of  reason,  magnified  and 
exalted.  Women,  young  uoinen,  good  young  women, 
think  they  are  only  yielding  to  the  impulse  of  a  pious 
affection,  when  they  applaud  or  censure  this  or  the 
other  public  character.  But  what  are  they  doing  in- 
deed ?  Blowing  up  one  poor  vain  idol  of  straw  into 
self-confidence  and  importance  ;  and  piercing  through, 
on  the  other  hand,  an  honest  heart  with  anguish  unut- 
terable ;  perhaps  robbing  a  worthy,  happy  flmnly  of 
its  bread,  or,  what  is  more,  of  its  peace  and  comfort. 
I  am  no  stranger  to  what  is  by  some  termed  religious 
conversation,  and  I  am  se.-iously  concerned  about  the 
topics  of  it.  It  generally  turns  upon  persons,  not 
things.  Now,  it  ought  to  be  just  the  reverse.  Per- 
sons always  mislead  us,  for  no  one  is  wholly  impartial  : 
but  truth  is  eternal  and  unchangeable.  Apply  then 
the  rest. ...Does  the  conversation  dwell  upon  this  man 
or  his  neighbor,  his  rival  or  his  enemy... .check  it, 
away  with  it  ;  what  have  the  interests  of  piety  to  do 
in  the  case  ?  Had  he  never  been  born,  "  the  founda- 
tion of  God*'  would  have  stood  as  it  does,  without 
his  feeble  aid.  Call  no  man  master  in  sacred  things, 
but  Christ  :  and  take  care  that  you  measure  neither 
orthodoxy,  sense  nor  virtue,  by  the  imperfect,  fluct- 
uating standard  of  your  own  caprice,  affection  or  under- 
standing. Were  similar  punishment  instantly  to  follow 


LECT.   XI.  HISTORY    Of  AARON.  403 

the  vices  of  the  tongue,  as  in  the  case  of  Miriam,  I  shud- 
der to  think  how  many  a  fair  face  now  lovely  to  the 
sight,  must  by  to-morrow  morning  stand  in  need  of 
a  veil ;  hut  not  for  the  same  reason  that  the  face  of 
Moses  did  on  his  descending  from  the  mount,  to  tem- 
per its  lustre  ;  but  to  shroud  its  loathsomeness  and  de- 
formity. Consider  what  hath  been  said,  and  "set  a 
watch  on  the  door  of  your  lips,"  and  "  keep  the  heart 
vith  all  diligence." 


HISTORY  OF  AARON. 


LECTURE  Xir. 


And  the  Lord  spake  unto  Moses  and  Aai^on  in  Mount 
Hoi\   by  the  coast  of  the  land  of  Edom,  sai/ingy 
Aaron  shall  be  gathered  unto  his  people  ;  Jor  he 
shall  not  enter  into  the  land  ivhich  I  have  given  unto 
the  children  of  Israel,  because  ye  rebelled  against 
my  ivord  at  the  ivater  of  Merihah.     Take  Aaron 
and  Eleazar  his  son,  and  bring  them  up  unto  Mount 
Ilor  :  and  strip  Aaron  of  his  garments,  and  put 
them  upon  Eleazar  his  son  :  a?id  Aaron  shall  be 
gathered  imto  his  people,  and  shall  die  there.    And 
Moses  did  as  the  Lord  commanded :  and  they  went 
up  into  Mount  Ilor,  in  the  sight  of  all  the  congrega- 
tion.     And  Moses  stripped  Aaron  of  his  garments, 
and  put  them  upon  Eleazar  his  son ;  and  Aaron 
died  there  in  the  top  oj  the  rnount.     And  Moses 
and  Eleazar  came  down  from  the  mount.      And 
when  all  the  congregation  sazv  that  Aaron  was  dead, 
they  mourned  for  Aaron  thirty  days,  even  all  the 
house  of  Israe'l....]<iu MB.  xx.  23. ..29. 

THE  love  of  life  is  one  of  the  most  useful  and  im- 
portant principles  implanted  in  human  nature ; 
and  death,  the  necessary  end  of  all  men,  is  an  event, 
mercifully  and  in  wisdom  hid  from  our  eyes.  Hoping 
that  we  may  live  till  to-morrow,  we  feel  ourselves  im- 
pelled to  exert  ourselves  to-day,  to  make  some  prc^) 
^ion.  for  it.     Not  knowing  the  time  of  their  de?-  -.-- 


LECT.   XII.  IIISTOin'   or   AARON.  405 

men  are  cnga_c;ed  to  act  as  if  they  were  immortal.  And 
thoiiHi  no  wise  man  would  "  wish  to  live  al- 
■ways,"  or  can  deem  it  possible,  yet  the  precise  jicrioa 
never  comes,  when  we  find  ourselves  so  entirely  un- 
occupied with  temporal  prospects  or  pursuits,  so  totally 
mortified  to  the  world,  as  to  be  disposed  with  cheer- 
fulness to  lenvc  it.  Hence  the  business  of  tlie  world 
goes  on,  which  would  otherwise  stand  still ;  and  that 
God  of  whose  years  there  can  be  no  end,  is  carrving 
on  designs  of  everlasting  moment,  b}-  frail  and  short- 
lived instruments.  This  man  makes  a  few  feeble,  dy- 
ing eftbrts,  and  expires.  Another  comes  after  him, 
takes  up  the  instrument  which  his  feilow  had  laid 
down,  makes  his  stroke  or  two,  and  expires  likewise; 
and  yet  by  means  of  eftbrts  so  weak,  so  intcrrnpted, 
and  self-destroying,  the  purposes  of  Heaven  proceed, 
the  building  of  God  rises;  every  loss  is  instantly  re- 
paired, every  defect  supplied,  and  no  chasm  in  the 
chain  of  Providence  is  permitted  to  take  place.  Hence 
men  are  dignified  with  the  title  of  fel!o\v-vvoi-kers  with 
God,  and  the  perishing  attempts  of  perishing  creatures 
are  employed  in  maturing  the  plans  of  infinite  wisdom, 
and  are  honored  by  the  acceptance  and  approbation  of 
Him  who  "  worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his 
f)wn  will."  AVhat  a  motive  to  diligence,  exertion  and 
perse-\  erance ! 

"  I  paint  for  eternit}^,"  replied  the  great  artist  of 
antiquity,  when  reprehended  for  an  over  curious,  pain- 
ful and  laborious  attention,  to  the  more  nice  and  deli- 
cate touches  of  his  favorite  pieces.  What  a  lesson  of 
encouragement,  admonition  and  reproof  to  christians  ! 
They  are  indeed  acting  for  eternity  ;  not  like  the  pain- 
ter, pursuing  the  empty  bubble,  reputation,  but  aiming 
at  "  the  end  of  their  faith,  even  the  salvation  of  their 
souls."  They  are  striving  continually  to  bring  a  new 
tribute  of  praise  to  God,  and  to  promote  the  everlasting 
happiness  of  mankind. 

J^t  is  truiy  pitiable  to  sec- a  poor  creature  cleaving  to 


406  HISTORY   or  AARON.  LECT.  XII» 

life  after  the  jelisb  of  it  is  gone,  merely  from  a  fond 
attachment  to  the  things  of  time.  It  is  more  lamenta- 
ble still  to  behold  a  miserable  wretch  shrinking  from 
death,  through  a  well-grounded  horror  of  its  conse- 
quences. But  to  desire  life  from  a  desire  of  doing 
good ;  to  be  willing  to  continue  in  the  flesh,  for  the 
greater  good  of  the  church  and  of  the  world,  argues 
a  great,  a  noble  and  disinterested  spirit ;  it  excites  our 
love  and  admiration.  That  man  is  indeed  immortal, 
the  daily  language  of  whose  conduct  is,  "  Let  me 
l)erform  at  least  one  good  action  more.  I  know  I  am 
to  die  ;  let  my  tongue,  then,  yet  once  again  speak 
praise  to  God  and  instruction  to  man,  before  it  be- 
comes forever  silent.  Before  the  cold  hand  of  death 
freezes  up  the  genial  current  at  my  heart,  let  it  pour 
out  the  gentle  stream  of  kindness,  sympathy  and  love. 
While  this  arm  is  able  as  yet  to  extend  itself,  and  this 
hand  to  expand,  let  it  be  extended  to  protect  the  op- 
pressed, to  support  the  weak  ;  let  it  be  expanded  to 
feed  the  hungry,  to  clothe  the  naked,  to  relieve  the 
miserable.  Ere  my  eyes  close,  to  open  no  more,  let 
some  one  of  the  wonderful  things  of  God  again  pass 
through  them,  to  revive  my  drooping  spirits,  to  cheer 
and  elevate  my  sinking  soul ;  and  before  I  divest  my- 
self of  my  robes  of  office,  never  to  resume  them,  let 
me  humbly  endeavor  to  minister  to  the  Lord,  and  to 
the  spiritual  wants  of  men,  in  the  duties  of  my  station." 

Calm  and  composed  as  was  the  death  of  Aaron,  we 
advance  toward  it  with  slowness  and  reluctance,  and 
therefore  with  eagerness  seize  the  occasion  which 
scripture  affords,  of  adverting  to  some  farther  inci- 
dents of  his  life,  before  we  come  to  the  history  of  that 
fatal  event. 

It  was  with  astonishment  and  grief,  we  saw  him  en- 
gaged in  a  plan  of  disaffection  and  sedition  against  his 
amiable  and  excellent  brother  ;  and  in  wonder  mixed 
with  terror,  we  observed  the  mingled  lenity  and  seve- 
lity  of  the  punishment  inflicted  by  God  on  that  impi. 


LECT.   Xir.  IflSTORY   OF    AAROIf.  407 

Oils,  unnatural  and  ungrateful  conduct.  But  the  of- 
fence way  not  expiated  when  Miriam  was  struck 
with  leprosy,  and  Aaron  thereby  tacitly  reprehended  ; 
when  Miriam  was  restored,  and  Israel  permitted  to 
move  forwards.  Trans3;ressors  often  flatter  tl-iemselves 
that  surely  the  bitterness  of  death  is  past,  when  a  righ- 
teous God  is  but  awaking  to  vengeance  ;  and  it  is  not 
seldom  found,  that  between  crimes  and  punishments 
there  is  such  an  apparent  affinity,  that  the  criminal  can- 
not but  read  his  guilt  in  the  evil  which  overtakes  him  ; 
and  the  world  is  made  to  "see,"  not  only  "the  rod," 
but  "  liim  th?!t  hath  appointed  it." 

Six  years  have  elapsed,  from  the  sedition  of  Aaron 
and  Miriam,  when  a  similar  conspiracy  is  formed  to 
discredit  the  government  of  Moses,  and  the  pricbt- 
hood  of  Aaron,  by  certain  turbulent,  envious  and  am- 
bitious men  of  their  own  tribe,  in  confederacy  with 
some  of  a  similar  spirit  of  the  tribe  of  Reuben.  So 
widely  and  so  suddenly  has  the  malignity  of  revcjlt 
spread  itself,  that  no  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty 
princes  of  the  assembly,  fjn;ous  in  the  congregation, 
men  of  renown,  with  their  adherents,  have  been  in- 
fected by  it :  and  Aaron  has  his  large  share  <;f  that 
obloquy,  v\  hich  he  had  before  so  unjustly  employed, 
to  weaken  the  hands,  and  to  blast  the  reputation  of  his 
brother.  But  ah  !  my  friends,  a  leprosy  of  seven  da}s 
could  not  V  ash  av,  ay  the  stain  of  this  transgression  ; 
neither  could  the  blood  of  one  unhappy  victiiw,  make 
atonement  for  a  crime  in  Mhieh  so  many  were  invoh'- 
ed.  The  Lord  creates  "  a  rievv  thing,"  to  mark  the 
severity  of  his  hot  displcaL-ure.  When  Moses  had 
made  an  end  of  denouncing  the  judgment  of  God,  it 
came  to  pass  the  "  ground  c!ave  asunder  that  w  as  un- 
der them  :  and  the  earth  opened  her  moufh,  and  swal- 
lowed them  up,  and  their  houses,  and  all  the  men  that 
appertained  to  Korah,  and  all  tlieir  goods.  They,  and 
all  that  appertained  to  them,  went  down  alive  into  the 
pit,  and  the  earth  closed  upon  them  :  and  they  perish- 


408-  MISTORY   or   AAROM.  I.ECT.  XII, 

ed  from  among  the  congregation.  And  there  came 
out  a  fire  from  the  Lord,  and  consumed  the  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  that  offered  incense,"  Numb.  xvi. 
31. ..33,  55.  A  plague  broke  out  among  the  people, 
ivhich,  before  it  was  stayed  by  the  interposition  of  the 
high-priest  himself,  offering  incense  between  the  liv- 
ing and  the  dead,  had  consumed  fourteen  thousand 
beven  hundred. 

What,  O  Aaron,  were  now  thy  feelings,  surveying 
a  field  of  blood  so  dreadful  and  so  extensive  !  What 
were  thy  feelings  in  reflecting  that  for  the  very  offence 
which  th';u  thyself  hadst  committed,  Miriam  was  a 
leper,  a!id  thousands  were  siain  !  Did  not  thy  heart 
tremble,  as  the  sword  of  the  destroying  angel  laid 
heaps  upon  heaps,  whilst  thou  stooclst  in  the  fearful 
gap,  lest  its  keen  edge  should  reach  thyself? 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  enormity  of  the  greater 
crimes  which  Aaron  committed,  was  exposed  by  the 
judgments  wherewith  God  visited  similar  crimes  in 
others,  not  in  himself;  whereas,  for  an  apparently 
li9;hter  transgression,  his  life  was  irrecoverably  for- 
feited, and  he  fell  under  a  doom,  which  no  penitence 
nor  supplication  could  alter  or  avert.  We  cannot 
judge  of  the  malignity  of  crimes  from  certain  external 
circumstances.  Both  in  the  good  which  men  do,  and 
the  evil  they  commit,  God  principally  regards  the 
heart  and  intention  ;  but  to  discern  and  to  judge  of 
the  tlioughts  and  intents  of  the  heart,  is  a  prerogative, 
which  with  awful  propriety  he  has  reserved  to  himself. 

God  has  punished  the  defection  of  Korah  and  his 
abettors  in  the  most  open  and  exemplary  manner. 
Not  satisfied  vJth  this,  because  the  memory  of  judg- 
uienls  the  most  signal  and  alarming,  is  apt  speedily  to 
be  <)l)litorated....such  is  the  thoughtfulness  and  f)lly 
of  men  !  Me  was  pleased  to  appoint  a  lasting  memorial 
of  the  preference  which  he  had  bestowed  on  Aaron 
and  Ins  famiiy,  and  to  confer  a  fresh  badge  of  dis- 
tinction on   ihc   nuai   whom  he  delighted    to  honor. 


LECT.   XII.  ailSTORY   OF  AARON.  40S> 

Moses  is  directed  to  take  cf  each  of  the  tribes  of  Israel 
a  several  rod,  and  to  inscribe  every  one  with  the  name 
of  the  prince  of  that  tribe  to  which  it  belonged,  writ- 
ing the  name  of  Aaron  on  the  rod  of  the  tribe  of  Levi. 
They  were  to  be  laid  up  together  over  night  before 
the  Lord,  in  tiie  tabernacle  of  the  congergation  be- 
fore the  testimony,  and  previous  intimation  was  given 
to  all  concerned,  that  by  the  next  morning,  God  would 
give  an  explicit  and  unequivocal  declaration  of  his  will, 
respecting  the  office  of  priesthood. 

The  God  v.  horn  we  adore,  would  rather  make  him- 
self known  by  the  wonders  which  he  performs,  and  the 
mercies  which  he  dispenses,  than  by  the  judgments 
which  he  executes.  It  was  fulfilled  accordingly. 
The  rods  of  the  eleven  other  tribes  remained  as  they 
were  deposited;  separated  from  the  parent  stock,  sap- 
less, withered,  and  dead  ;  but  the  rod  of  Aaron  as  if  it 
had  been  still  a  branch  united  to  a  living  root,  and  by 
a  progress  of  vegetation  infinitely  more  rapid  than  na- 
ture knows,  in  tlie  course  of  one  night,  *'  brought  forth 
buds,  and  bloomed  blossoms,  and  yielded  almonds." 
Numb.  xvii.  8.  And  lo,  a  miracle  as  great  as  a  lifeless 
twig  bringing  forth  fruit,  the  fierce  and  angry  spirit 
which  acts  of  just  vengeance  had  but  irritated,  is  by  a 
miracle  of  kindness  and  condescension,  mollified, 
melted,  subdued,  extinguished  :  and  thus  necessary 
are  signs  and  wonders  to  silence  and  persuade  mur- 
muring, unbelieving  Hebrews,  as  well  as  to  render 
inexcuseable  impenitent  Egyptians. 

This  mark  of  preference  having  been  openly  exhib- 
ited, for  the  conviction  and  satisfaction  of  all,  com- 
mandment is  once  more  given  to  carry  back  this  won- 
<lrous  rod,  and  to  deposit  it  by  itself  before  God,  with 
the  other  sacred  furniture  of  the  most  holy  place,  to 
serve  to  latest  posterity  as  one  of  the  precious  monu- 
ments of  the  divine  favor  to  their  forefathers.  It  is 
highly  probable,  that  it  always  preserved  that  verdure 
to  which  it  was  thus  preternaturally   restored  ;  and  is 

VOL.   II.  3    « 


410  HISTORY  or  AARON.  LECT.  XI& 

a  lively  ima^e  of  the  constant  preservation  of  the  uni- 
verse, by  that  all-powerful  Word  which  spake  it  into 
existence  at  first ;  of  the  continued  support  of  life, 
by  the  merciful  visitation  of  that  Spirit  who  "  breathed 
into  man's  nostrils  the  breath  of  life  ;  and  man  became 
a  living  soul,"  Gen.  ii.  7- 

Aarrn,    thus  again    distinguished  and  honored  of 
Heaven,    continues  to  enjoy  the  dignity,   and  to   per- 
form the  duties  of  the  priesthood  for  thirty-one  years 
longer  ;   we  doubt  not,  with  credit  to  himself,  and  to 
the  satisiliction  and  advantage  of  all  Israel.     But,  alas  ! 
he  has  the  mortification  of  seeing  that  people  gradually 
and    imperceptibly   wasting  away  before  his  eyes  ;   he 
feels  himself  the  dying  minister  of  a  dying  congrega- 
tion ;.  he  observes  the  hand  of  justice   doing  that  by 
slow  degrees,    which  it  might  have   accomplished  at 
once,  and  employing  forty  years  in  what  it  could  have 
made  the  work  of  a  single  moment.     At  length   the 
stroke  of  death  com.es  home  to  his  family,  and  it  may 
be  presumed  to  his  very   heart.     In  the  one   hundred 
and  twentieth  year  of  hif^  age,  arid  thirty-seventh  of  his 
priesthood,  Miriam,  his  sister  by  nature,  his  friend  by 
habit  and  affection,   and,  sad  to  think,  his  companion 
in  offence,  is  removed  to  a  w^orld  of  spirits,  and  he  is 
warned  of  his  own  departure,  by  the  loss  of  one  of  his 
nearest  and    dearest  relations.     Moses  delineates  her 
character    with   singular  conciseness   and   simplicity,. 
The  hand  which  she  had  in  his  preservation,  when  he 
was  exposed,  in  early  infancy,  upon  thcNile,  procures 
her  an    interest  in    his  affection,  and  in   those  of  his 
readers,  which  tlie  blameableness  of  some  parts  of  her 
after  conduct  is  unable  wholly  to  destroy.    Our  censure 
of  her  envy  and  malignity,  in  more  advanced  life,  jis- 
somewhat  softened  by  the  recollection  of  her  childish 
tenderness,  attachment,    vigilance  and  address  :  and, 
while  we  condemn  the  vehemence  of  her  spirit,  and 
the  unrulincss  of  her  tongue,  the  edge  of  resentment 
is  blunted,  Vv'hen  Are  see  her  punished  there,  where  a 


2.ECT.   Xir.  HISTORY   OF    AARON.  4.11 

female  is  most  vulnerable,  in  the  fairness  of  her  looks, 
and  the  agrecablencss  of  her  person,  and  we  heartily 
join  in  the  prayer  of  Aaron  in  her  behalf:  "  Alas, 
my  lord,  let  her  not  be  as  one  dead,  of  whom  the  flesh 
is  half  consumed,  when  he  cometh  out  of  his  mother's 
womb;''  andinlliatof  Moses  himself;  "  Heal  her 
now,  O  God,  I  beseech  thee."  From  thence  to  the 
hour  of  her  death,  a  period  of  thirty-seven  yenrs, 
the  history  is  entirely  silent  concerning  her,  and  this 
is,  perhaps,  the  highest  praise  that  can  be  bestowed 
upon  her.  The  sharp  reproof  which  she  had  received 
f  jr  presuming  to  intermeddle  in  public  affairs,  had 
tauglit  her,  we  are  bound  in  charity  to  believe,  that 
the  post  of  honor,  for  a  woman,  is  a  private  station  ; 
that  she  is  then  most  distinguished,  most  respectable, 
most  valuable,  when  the  world  knows  and  talks  least 
about  her. 

That  self-same  year  the  fatal  summons  is  addressed 
to  Aaron  also,  and  one  brother  is  made  the  messenger 
of  death  to  the  other.  The  same  hand  which  arra}ed 
him  in  splended  apparel,  and  consecrated  him  to  the 
high  and  honorable  office  of  priesthood,  must  strip 
him  again,  and  anoint  him  to  his  burying.  The  whole 
progress  of  this  solemn  scene  is  highly  pathetic  and  in- 
teresting. Let  Ub  attend  the  funeral  procession  to  the 
top  of  Mount  Hor,  and  learn  to  die  to  the  vanity  and 
glory  of  this  world,  and  to  cleave,  with  increased  ar- 
dor, to  that  gospel,  by  which  "  life  and  immortality 
are  brought  to  light,"  and  to  trust  in  that  great  High- 
Priest,  who,  though  he  "  was  dead,  is  alive,  and  lives 
for  evermore,"  and  giveth  "  eternal  life  to  as  many  as 
he  will." 

Death,  the  most  common  of  all  events,  at  evcrv  sea- 
-son,  and  in  whatever  form  it  comes,  is  tremendous  and 
affecting  ;  but  the  appearance  of  death,  in  the  scene 
before  us,  is  altogether  singular  and  uncommon.  It  is 
indeed  the  death  of  an  old  man,  but  not  occasioned  b}- 
any  apparent  decay  of  nature,  not  preceded  by  long 


4llK  HISTORY  or  AARON".  LECT.  XIU 

sickness,  not  hastened  on  by  disease  or  accident ;  but 
the  spirit  is  surrendered  at  the  command  of  God,  in  the 
fulness  of  heahh,  in  the  composure  of  perfect  recol- 
lection, without  a  hesitation  of  reluctant  nature,  with- 
out regret,  without  a  pang.  When  sentence  of  death 
was  pronounced  upon  Moses  himself,  and  for  the 
self- same  transgression  which  shortened  the  life  of 
Aaron,  we  find  the  fondness  of  nature,  and  the  fervor 
of  religion,  repeatedly  uniting,  to  crave  a  reprieve  at 
least,  if  not  a  total  remission  :  but  Aaron,  when  sum- 
moned to  depart,  whether  it  was  from  superior  forti- 
tude of  mind,  from  the  consciousness  of  greater  de- 
merit, or  that  the  historian  has  charitably  drawn  a 
veil  over  a  brother's  infirmity,  while  he  frankly  ex- 
poses his  own,  prepares  instantly  and  cheerfully  for  the 
event. 

Were  we  to  follow  the  impulse  of  imagination,  we 
might,  without  overleaping  the  modesty  of  nature  re- 
present to  you  the  deep  concern  wherewith  the  good 
man's  own  family  was  affected  when  the  award  of  death 
was  pronounced;  the  concern  of  all  Israel  at  the  thought 
of  being  deprived  of  the  labors,  the  advices,  the  ex- 
ample and  the  prayers  of  their  venerable  high-priest  ; 
the  concern  of  Moses  in  being  made  the  messenger,, 
almost  the  executioner  of  death,  upon  his  much  be- 
loved brother,  associate  and  friend  ;  himself  too  lying 
under  the  same  condemnation.  If  after  he  received 
the  command  to  ascend  the  mountain,  that  he  might 
die,  he  was  permitted  to  minister  in  the  priest's  office 
any  more,  to  pour  out  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice,  to 
burn  incense  upon  the  altar,  to  lift  up  his  hands  and 
bless  the  people,  with  what  holy  fervor  may  wc  sup- 
pose these  sacred  services  performed  !  with  what  de- 
vout attention  would  they  be  listened  unto  and  waited 
upon,  when  both  minister  and  people  knew  for  cer- 
tain they  were  to  meet  no  more  !  May  we  not  suppose 
the  good  man  in  strains  such  as  these,  taking  a  last, 
long  farewel  of  those  to  whom  he  had  for  so   many 


LECT  XII.  HISTOrV   OT  AARON.  4'IS 

years  stood  in  a  rcliition  so  tender  and  so  intimate. 
"  The  time  of  my  departure  O  Israel  is  at  length 
come,  and  I  am  ready  to  bo  oR'cred  up.  That  God 
who  appointed  me  to  serve  you  in  holy  things,  per- 
mits nieto  wait  at  his  altar  no  longer.  I  have  fulfilled 
my  day.  1  have  finished  my  course.  I  have  sur- 
vived the  greatest  part  of  my  cotcmporarles,  but  must 
die  at  length.  I  leave  you  with  remorse,  because  I 
accuse  myself  of  many  failures  in  point  of  duty 
towards  you  ;  I  leave  you  with  regret,  because  I  sin- 
cerely love  you  ;  I  leave  you  with  joy,  because  I  can 
with  confidence  commit  you  to  a  guardian  Providence, 
even  to  the  God  of  your  fathers,  who  can  easily  sup- 
ply my  place,  by  one  wiser,  holier  and  more  faithful 
than  me ;  and  who,  I  trust,  will  continue  still  to  rule 
and  to  lead  you  by  that  best  of  men,  of  brothers  and 
of  friends.  My  body  leaves  you,  but  my  spirit  cannot 
be  separated  from  you  ;  in  death  it  will  cleave  unto 
you ;  and  when  set  free  from  the  clogs  of  sense,  it 
will  still  hover  over  you,  attend  your  journey ings, 
and,  finally,  rest  in  peace  when  Israel  rests  in  the 
promised  land.     These  forty  years  have  I  borne  your  I 

names  engraved  on  jewels,  upon  my  heart,  and  I  will 
carry  you  with  me  in  my  heai't,  to  the  regions  of  eternal 
day.  Farewel,  my  sons ;  Eleazar,  the  heir  of  my 
dignity  and  anxiety,  and  Ithamar.  my  youngest  hope- 
Think  of  the  dreadful  fate  of  your  elder  brothers,  and 
serve  the  Lord  with  reverence  and  godly  fear.     Think  | 

of  your  father's  errors,  and  learn  wisdom.  Ponder 
his  approaching  dissolution,  and  learn  the  nothingness 
of  human  grandeur.  C;.ill  to  your  remembrance  what 
Providence  has  done  to  and  for  me,  and  rejoice  with 
trembling.  Again  I  am  summoned  away  ;  it  is  the 
voice  of  M')ses,  of  my  brother  ;  it  is  the  voice  of  God 
I  hear.  The  Lord  bless  thee,  and  keep  thee,  the  Lord 
make  his  face  to  shine  upon  thee,  and  be  gracious  unto 
thee  ;  the  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance  upon  thee,  and 
give  thee  peace.     I  come,  my  brother;  I  know  whose 


414  HISTORY  or  AARON.  LECT.  XII. 

command  thou  bearest ;   I  know  that  I  must  obey. 
But  to  part  with  thee  is  the  bitterness  of  death ;  en- 
deared as  we  are  to  each  other  by  friendship,  as  allied 
by  blood.... conjoined  in  office,  knit  tog;ether  by  habits 
oi' affection,  united  in  life,  and,  blessed  reflection,  not 
to  be  long  divided  by  death.     Thou  wilt  bury  all  my 
unworlhiness  in  the  grave  ;   thou  hast  already  buried  it 
in  the  profounder,  silenter  tomb  of  a  gentle  and  for- 
giving; heart,     i  come,  O  my  God,  at  diy  call ;   I  de- 
sire not  to  live,  if  thou  biddest  me  to  die.   Yet  I  mourn 
to  think  that  my  death  is  a  mark  of  thy  displeasure. 
But  I  see  the  sun  shining  through  the  cloud  ;   it  is  not 
wholly  in  anger,  thou  art  summoning  me  uwny  ;   thou 
art  graciously  putting  an  end  to  my  painful  labors,  my 
aiixious  thoughts,  my  imperfect  services,  to  my  weak- 
nesses and  wanderings,   and  exalting  me  to  a  dignity 
f.tr  beyond  v»'hat  I  have"  hitherto  enjoyed.     I  shall  see 
thee  as  thou  art.     I  shall  serve  thee  without  wearvino:. 
i  shall  offend  no  more.     Henceforth  is  laid  up  for  me, 
u  diadem  for  glory  and  for  beauty,   a  crown  of  righte- 
ousness that  fadeth  not  away.     O  deaths  v/here  is  thy 
sting  ?  O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?  Arise,  let  us  go 
lience.     Arise,  let  us  ascend  to  the  top  of  the  moun- 
tain." 

Having,  in  v/hatever  language,  bidden  a  final  adieu 
to  worldly  connexions  ;  in  the  sight  of  all  the  people, 
t'.ie  high-priest,  in  all  the  splendor  of  his  official  habit, 
!  ad  and  solemn,  climbs  up  the  hill,  from  which  he 
never  was  to  descend.  What  were  the  emotions  of 
I^j-ael  in  gradually  losing  sight  of  their  venerable  patri- 
;  rch,  to  see  iiim  no  more  again  forever?  What  were 
t!^e  feelings  of  the  patriarch  in  surveying  from  the 
:  ummit  of  the  mountain  the  goodly  tents  of  Jacob,  in 
•  hich  he  had  an  earthly  concern  no  longer?  Nature 
t  asts  many  "  a  longing,  lingering  look  behind;"  but 
1  fith  looks  forward,  and  beholds  mortality  swallowed 
!  p  of  iii'c.  Nature  regrets  a  promised  land  ;  unseen, 
i.npossessed,   unenjoyed,    because  of  unbelief:    faith 


lECT.   XII.  KISTORY   OF   AARON.  -il5 

Stretches  the  winj^,  and  aims  a  bold  but  not  uncertaiii 
fli£;ht,  to  a  heavenly  Canaan,  where  "  the  wicked 
cease  from  troublir.g,  and  the  weary  are  forever  at 
rest." 

The  spirit  fails  as  we  proceed.  The  death-warrant 
is  again  recited.  The  justice  of  the  sentence  is  ac- 
knowltu^^-cd,  and  th'j  prisoner  prepares  for  death.  The 
golden  crown,  the  mitre,  the  girdle,  the  ephod,  the 
breast-plate,  are  one  after  another  deposited,  and  hu- 
man glory  is  patiently  siirzcndered.  As  they  were 
severally  yielded  up  by  the  father,  they  are  severally 
assumed  by  the  son.  Stripped  of  all  that  covered  the 
body,  the  body  itself  is  at  length  laid  down,  and  the 
mortal  blow  is  at  length  struck  by  Him  who  saith,  "  I 
make  alive,  and  I  kill."  Aaron  dies,  but  Elleazar 
lives.  The  priest  expires,  but  the  priesthood  is  im- 
mortal. Three  a:^.cend,  only  two  return.  What  mat- 
ters it  how  the  poor  perishing  clay  tabernacle  was  dis- 
posed of?  About  the  spirit  of  the  man  whom  God 
thus  called  away,  we  can  be  under  no  anxiety  nor  ap- 
prehension. A  geiieral,  and  I  doubt  not,  an  unaffect- 
ed mourning  of  thirty  days  takes  place  ;  and  all  Israel 
lament  when  dead,  the  man  whom  many  had  envied, 
maligned  and  persecuted  tViroua-h  life. 

This  is  one  of  the  many  happy  consequences  and 
effects  of  death  !  It  shuts  the  mouth  of  scandal ;  it 
brings  to  light  unnoticed  or  obscured  virtues;  it 
dravv^s  the  veil  over  blemishes  and  imperfections. 

Let  the  son  of  pride,  wh.o  is  rising  into  splendor, 
and  bears  '*  his  blushing  honors  thick  upon  him," 
turn  his  eyes  to  the  top  of  yonder  mountain,  and  learn 
the  nothingness  of  all  tlie  glory  of  man.  Is  his  station 
higher  than  that  of  the  high-priest  of  Israel  ?  Are  his 
vestments  more  magnificent,  is  his  character  more  sa- 
cred, is  his  dignity  more  permanent,  flow  his  honors 
from  a  higher  source  ?  Behold  Aaron  laid  low  :  retir- 
ing  from  the  world,  naked,  as  naked  he  came  into  it ; 
the  head  which  once  w^ore  the  mitre,  levelled  with 


416  HISTORY   OF    AARON.  LECT.  XII. 

the  dust;  the  tongue  which  once  spoke  so  well,  for- 
ever dun;b. 

The  hour  of  rest  nightly  admonishes  us  of  the  last 
flital  hour.  We  strip  ourselves  of  our  garments  one 
by  one,  and  hiy  theiu  down  ;  wc  are  reduced  to  the 
image  of  (Uath  ;  the  eye  is  closed  ;  cur  faculties  are 
absorbed  ;  the  form  of  the  man  only  remains.  And 
the  time  is  at  hand,  v.e  know  it,  when  we  must  put  oft 
this  body,  as  an  uneasy,  worn-out,  useless  vestment, 
fit  only  for  the  moth  or  the  dunghill.  "Man  must 
say  to  corruption,  Thou  art  my  father  ;  and  to  the 
worm,  Thou  art  my  sister  and  mother."  "  All  flesh 
is  Ji-rass,  and  all  the  goodlincss  of  man  as  the  flower 
of  "the  field." 

Our  very  children  aretlie  harbingersof  our  dissolu- 
tion. They  are  the  pleasantesi,  but  the  plainest  mon- 
itors. Every  step  they  rise  brings  us  a  little  lower ; 
as  they  grovv-  stronger  and  stronger,  wc  grow  weaker 
and  weaker.  Thty  wait  to  assume  our  niime,  our 
place,  our  robes,  our  office ;  they  are  ready  to  array 
themselves  in  our  s])oiis.  The  elevation  of  Eleazar  is 
the  fall  of  Aaron.  The  public  life  of  the  .son,  is  the 
death  of  the  sire. 

Look  to  that  mountain,  O  man,  and  reflect  that  he 
whom  now  you  hate,  envy,  oppose,  maligin,  will 
speedily  be  changed  into  a  clod  of  earth,  and  rendered 
incapable  of  feeling  or  returning  thy  animosity ;  and 
learn  to  die  betimes  to  these  wicked  and  odious  pas- 
sions. Suppose  him  laid  on  the  bed  of  death  ;  stript 
of  those  honors,  talents,  advantages,  successes  which 
render  him  the  object  of  jealousy  and  malignity  to 
thee.  How  you  aie  disarmed !  Pity  and  tenderness 
awake  in  your  breast.  You  now  hate  yourself,  that 
ever  you  could  hr.te  your  brother.  Let  the  reflection 
of  what  may  sooii  happen,  reconcile  thee  to  him  now. 
Mar  not  thy  own  comfort,  by  seeking  to  disturb  his 
re])osc.  The  cold  hand  of  death  will  speedily  extin- 
guish the  angry  flame. 


lECT.  XII.  HISTORT    OV    AARON.  417 

"  They  truly  were  many  priests,  because  they  were 
not  suffered  to  continue  by  reason  of  death  :  but  this 
man,  because  he  continueth  ever,  hath  an  unchange- 
able priesthood.  Wherefore,  he  is  able  also  to  save 
them  to  the  uttermost,  that  come  unto  God  by  him» 
seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  iatcrcession  for  them," 
Heb.  vii.  23,  24,  25.  *'  Ho  need  not  daily,  as  those 
hjgh-priests,  to  offer  up  sacrifices,  firi,t  for  his  own 
sins,  and  tlien  for  the  people's  :  for  this  he  did  once, 
when  he  offered  up  himself.  For  the  law  maketh  men 
high-priests  which  have  infirmity;  but  the  word  of 
the  oath  which  was  since  the  law,  maketh  the  Son, 
who  is  consecrated  for  evermore,"  Heb.  vii.  27,  28. 


VOL.  II.  3  a 


HISTORY  OF  BALAAM. 


LECTURE  XIII. 

7/t(S.'!  are  gone  astrai/,  following  the  way  of  Balaain., 
the  son  of  Bosor,  zvho  loved  the  wages  of  iinrighte- 
OHsness ;  but  was  rebuked  for  his  iniquity :  the 
dumb  asSy  speaking  xvith  man^s  voice ^  forbad  the 
madness  of  the  prophet..,  M  Pet.  ii.  1.5,  16. 

OF  all  the  evil  propensities  to  which  human  nature 
is  subject,  there  is  no  one  so  general,  so  insinu- 
ating, so  corruptive  and  so  obstinate,  as  the  love  of 
money.  It  begins  to  operate  early,  and  it  continues 
to  the  end  of  life.  One  of  the  first  lessons  which 
children  learn,  and  one  which  old  men  never  forget, 
is,  the  value  of  money.  The  covetous  seek  and  guard 
it  for  its  own  sake,  and  the  prodigal  himself  must  first 
be  avaricious,  before  he  can  be  profuse.  This,  of  all 
our  passions,  is  best  able  to  fortify  itself  by  reason, 
and  is  the  last  to  yield  to  the  force  of  reason.  It  most 
unremittingly  engages  the  attention,  and  calls  into 
their  fullest  exertion  all  our  powers  of  body  and  of 
mind.  Ambition  and  pride,  those  powerful  motives 
of  human  conduct,  are  but  ministering  servants  to 
avarice.  Reputation  and  power  are  pursued  chiefly 
as  the  means  of  procuring  wealth ;  and  all  the  fierce 
contentions  which  have  distracted  the  world,  and  de- 
kiged  it  with  blood,  may  be  traced  up  to  an  eager  de- 


LECT.   XIII.  IIISTOnY   OF   BALAAM.  419 

sire  to  obtain  the  territory,  or  tlie  treasure  of  another. 
AjE^e,  which  bhints  all  our  other  appetites,  only  whets 
this  ;  and  after  the  heart  is  dead  to  every  other  joy,  it 
lircs  to  the  dear,  the  inextinguishable  delight  of  sav- 
ing and  hoarding. 

In  exact  proportion  to  their  incapacity  and  disincli- 
nation to  make  use  of  money,  is  the  violence  of  men's 
thirst  to  possess  it ;  and  on  the  threshold  of  eternity  it 
cleaves  to  them,  as  if  their  life  were  just  beginning. 
Philosophy  combats,  satire  exposes,  religion  condemns 
it  in  vain  :  it  yields  neither  to  argument,  nor  ridicule, 
nor  conscience.  Like  the  lean  kine  in  Pharaoh's 
dream,  it  devours  all  that  comes  near  it,  and  yet  con- 
tinues as  hungry  and  meagre  as  ever.  If  a  represent- 
ation of  the  odiousness,  criminality  and  danger  of  this 
vile  aftcction  can  be  of  any  use,  it  must  be  to  those 
whose  hearts  are  not  yet  hardened,  whose  consciences 
are  not  yet  blinded  by  habits  of  indulgence  in  it ;  for 
if  it  has  once  gotten  possession  of  the  mind,  you 
might  as  easily  reinvigorate  feeble  age  by  a  discourse 
on  the  advantages  and  joys  of  youth,  or  restore  a  con- 
stitution wasted  through  consumption  by  an  elaborate 
declamation  on  the  blessing  of  health.  Avarice,  with 
the  deaf  adder,  "  will  not  hearken  to  the  voice  of 
charmers,  charming  never  so  wisely,"  Psalm  Iviii.  5. 

We  have  already  had  occasion,  in  the  course  of  these 
exercises,  to  trace  the  character  of  a  selfish  man,  and 
to  observe  the  workings  of  the  human  mind,  under  the 
influence  of  this  base  and  destructive  passion,  in  the 
history  of  Laban  the  Syrian.  There  we  saw  every 
principle  of  generosity  and  gratitude,  of  truth  and  jus- 
tice, of  humanity  and  natural  affection,  of  piety  and 
decency  vilely  sacrificed  to  this  insatiate  idol,  which, 
like  the  grave,  "  never  says  it  is  enough."  We  have 
in  the  history  referred  to  by  the  apostle,  in  the  words 
which  I  have  now  read,  another  striking  and  instruc- 
tive instance  of  the  dreadful  operation  of  covctousness, 
in  a  mind  enlightened  by  wisdom.,  awake  to  all  the 


■^v 


420  HISTORY   OF  BALAAM.  LECT.    Xlli. 

worthier  feelings  and  propensities  of  nature,  capable 
of  forming  the  justest  notions  of  right  and  wrong,  and 
of  conveying  these  notions  in  the  clearest  and  strongest 
expressions  ;  fully  instructed  and  firmly  persuaded 
respecting  his  duty  ;  but  actuated  by  this  fatal  pa  -•^ion, 
deliberately  deviating  from  the  right  path,  bcducing 
those  whom  he  durst  not  curse,  degrading  the  dignity 
of  the  prophet,  in  the  venality  of  the  courtier,  and 
shamefully  bartering  conscience  for  gain.  We  shall 
find,  then,  the  words  of  Peter  a  perfect  key  to  the  re- 
lation of  Moses  ;  and  whatever  inconsistency  shall  ap- 
pear in  the  conduct  of  Balaam,  whatever  fluctuation  in 
opinion  ;  v»'hatevcr  plausibility  of  language  and  senti- 
ment, combined  with  whatever  irresolution  in  virtue, 
all  is  explained  by  this  one  discovery  of  his  real  cha- 
racter, he  ''  loved  the  wages  of  unrighteousness." 
We  come  to  illustrate  this  position  by  the  his.tory  of 
itself. 

Forty  years  almost  have  elapsed  since  the  miraculous 
deliverance  from  K-gypt ;  and  the  whole  generation 
■which  partook  of  the  joy  of  that  deliverance  because 
of  their  unbelief,  is  vvell  nigh  extinguished.  Thous- 
ands and  ten  thousands  have  dropt  into  the  grave. 
I'hc  individuals  which  formed  the  congregation  of  Is- 
rael are  lost  and  forgotten  ;  but  Israel  still  lives,  the 
care  of  Piovidence,  the  object  of  favor  The  shafts 
of  vengeance  have  spent  themselves,  and  nothing  can 
now  stem  that  current  of  promise  and  destiny,  which. 
is  carrying  God's  favored  people  to  victory,  and  the 
possession  of  Canaan.  Their  decampments  and  pro- 
gress, tr.crcfore,  arc  no  longer  the  lingering  and  wan- 
derings of  a  dev6ted  people  doomed  to  die  in  the  wil- 
derness ;  but  the  bold,  direct  and  successful  progress 
of  a  warlike  nation,  from  conquest  to  conquest. 

A  multitude  so  great,  subsisting  in  a  desart  so  long, 
in  a  manner  so  singular,  could  net  but  attract  the  notice 
of  all  the  adjacent  nations,  wh.o  must  ha\c  btcn  anxi- 
ously soIicit(;us  which   way  their  route  was  directed,. 


L2CT.   XITI.  HISTORY    OF    BALAAM.  4121 

and  where  they  were  to  attempt  a  settlement  at  lengtli. 
Bcins^  arrived  at  the  border  of  the  wilderness,  where 
it  is  contiguous  to  the  country  of  the  Amorites  ;  not 
imagining  that  any  parr  of  iheir  inheritance  was  to  be 
allotted  thcni  on  this  side  Jordan  ;  they  petition  Shion, 
the  king  of  the  country,  to  grant  them  leave  to  pass 
peaceably  through  his  territories,  to  the  place  of  their 
destination.  This  he  roughly  refuses,  and,  without 
v/aiting  to  see  whether  Israel  meant  to  attempt  a  pas- 
sage by  force,  he  collects  his  whole  strength,  advances 
into  the.  wilderness  to  attack  them,  and  thereby  hastens 
on  his  own  fate  ;  for  his  army  is  smitten  with  the  edge 
of  the  sword,  and  his  whole  land  falls  an  easy  prey  to 
the  victor.  Og,  king  ot  Bashan,  is  rash  enough  to  fol- 
low his  example,  provokes  his  own  destruction,  is 
subdued  in  his  turn,  and  the  fertile  plains,  over  which 
he  reigned  swell  the  triumphs  of  Israel. 

Advancing  forward  to  Jordan,  they  pitch  their  camp 
in  the  plains  of  Moab.  This  nation  was  descended 
from  Lot,  the  nephew  of  Abraham,  by  an  incestuous 
coHimerce  with  liis  elder  daughter.  They  had  long 
before  this  been  reduced  into  a  regular  form  of  civil 
^gOA'ernment,  that  of  monarchy,  and  were  living  in  the 
nuiet  possession  of  a  fruitful  country,  secured  to  them 
by  the  appointment  of  Providence,  in  consideration  of 
their  relation  to  their  venerable  ancestor  :  and  Israel 
was  expressly  prohibited  to  disturb  them,  or  their 
brethren  and  neighbors,  the  children  of  Ammon,  the 
posterity  of  Lot  by  his  younger  daughter,  in  the  pos- 
session of  their  inheritance.  The  report  of  their  vic- 
tories, however,  over  Og  and  Sihon,  has  roused  the  at- 
tention and  the  jealousy  of  Balak  kingof  Moab.  Instead 
of  employing  the  ratiowal  j)olicy,  of  courting  alliance 
and  friendship  with  a  people  so  formidable,  and  who 
were  neither  disposed  nor  permitted  to  molest  them  ; 
or  of  adopting  the  manly  policy  of  repelling  bold  in- 
vaders by  open  v.  ar,  he  has  recourse  to  the  mean,  timid 
and  contemptible  arts  of  necromancy    or  divination. 


422  KiSTOiiY  or  balaam.  lect.  xiriv 

For  this  purpose  be  sends  messengers  to  Balaam,  the 
son  of  Bosor,  a  noted  inchantcr  of  those  times,  with 
large  money  in  their  hands,  styled  in  scripture  "  the 
rewards  of  divination,"  and  "  the  wages  of  unrighte- 
ousness," and  a  message  to  this  purpose  :  "  Behold, 
there  is  a  people  come  out  from  Egypt:  behold,  they 
cover  the  lace  of  the  earth,  and  they  abide  over  against 
me.  Come  now  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  curse  me  this 
people  ;  for  they  are  too  mighty  for  me  :  peradventurc 
I  shall  prevail,  that  we  may  smite  them,  and  that  I  may 
drive  them  out  of  the  land  :  for  I  wot  that  he  whom 
thou  blessest  is  blessed,  and  he  whom  thou  cursest  is 
cursed,"  Numb.  xxii.  5,  6«  Thus  Providence  fulfil- 
led the  words  of  the  oracle,  pronounced  in  the  song  of 
Moses  thirty-eight  years  before,  immediately  on  the 
passage  of  the  Red  Sea;  *'  Then  the  dukes  of  Edom 
shall  be  amazed,  the  mighty  men  of  Moab,  trembling 
shall  take  hold  upon  them  :  all  the  inhabitants  of 
Canaan  shall  melt  away.  Fear  and  dread  shall  fall 
upon  them  :  by  the  greatness  of  thine  arm  they  shall 
be  as  still  as  a  stone,"  Exod.  xv.  15,  16.  Nov/  the 
person  to  whom  Balak  applied  on  this  trying  occasion, 
Mas  a  man  of  a  very  extraordinary  character,  and  of 
very  singular  gifts  and  abilities.  He  seems  to  have 
iinited  qualities,  the  most  dissimilar  and  opposite. 
He  exhibits  in  his  language  and  conduct,  a  very  un- 
common combination  and  contrast  of  virtues  and  vices. 
What  can  exceed  on  tlie  one  hand,  the  generosity  and 
disinterestedness  which  he  expressed  and  put  in  prac- 
tice, when  repeatedly  urged  to  employ  his  prophetic 
sagacity  or  magical  skill  against  Israel?  "  If  Balak 
would  give  me  his  house-full  of  silver  and  gold,  I 
cannot  go  beyond  the  word  of  the  Lord  my  God,  to 
do  less  or  more,"  Numb.  xxii.  18.  What  can  equal 
on  the  other,  the  vile  prostitution,  for  hire,  of  his  great 
talents  in  the  service  of  an  idolatrous  prince,  against 
the  people  whom  he  knew  to  be  favored  and  protected 
of  Heaven  ?  We  see  him  this  day  seeking  and  enjoj- 


T,ECT.   Xlir.  HISTORY"   OF    BALAAM.  4'?3 

ing  the  most  intimate  communion  with  the  living  and 
true  God  ;  and  to-morrow  recurring  to  the  practice 
of  inlamous  and  infernal  arts,  to  accomplish  a  most 
detestable  and  diabolical  purpose  :  proclaiming  at  oi^ 
time,  in  language  M'hich  tlic  spirit  of  wisdom  and 
prophecy  alone  could  inspire,  the  security,  glory  and 
happiness  of  that  people  vkIwui  God  delighted  to  honor; 
and,  with  the  very  next  breath,  insidiously  suggesting 
counsels,  ^v■hich  directly  tended  to  destroy  that  secu- 
rity, to  tarnish  that  glory,  and  to  dissolve  that  happi- 
ness. In  a  word,  we  behold  him  fully  impressed  with 
the  importance  of  a  holy  life,  in  order  to  a  peaceful 
and  happy  end,  and  yet  living  in  the  commission  of 
the  most  flagrant  enormities,  and  prematurely  cut  off> 
with  all  his  imperfections  on  his  head  ;  cleaving  to  the 
last  to  the  mammon  of  unrighteousness,  and  yet  suf- 
ficiently impressed  with  the  loveliness  of  true  good- 
ness to  pray  in  these  words,  "  Let  me  die  the  death 
of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his," 
Numb,  xxiii.  10.  ' 

For  tiie  further  clearing  up  of  this  very  singular 
character  and  history,  it  may  be  of  importance  to  ob- 
serve that  though  the  descendants  of  Abraham  for 
many  ages  after  the  death  of  that  patriarch,  were  dis- 
tinguished as  the  peculiar  people  of  God,  to  whom 
were  committed  the  lively  oracles,  and  '*  to  whon\ 
pertained  the  adoption,  and  the  glory,  and  the  covenants, 
and  the  giving  of  the  law,  and  the  service  of  God,  and. 
the  promises,"  Rom.  ix.  4,  yet  scripture  permits 
us  not  to  consider  all  divine  knowledge  as  confined  to 
that  people,  previous  to  their  establishment  in  Canaan. 
The  dispersion  from  the  wild  attempt  of  Babel,  ne- 
cessarily conve}  ed  in  every  one  of  its  fragments  some 
knowledge  of  the  nature,  will  and  worship  of  the  God 
of  their  fathers  ;  which,  though  in  process  of  time, 
obscured  by  tradition  and  forgetfulness,  and  disfigur- 
ed by  human  invention,  must  still  have  retained  some- 
what of  both  its  original  form  and  substance*     The 


424  HISTORY  or  BALAAM.  LECT.  Xlll, 

example  and  instructions  of  so  good  a  master,  and  a 
neighbor  so  respectable  as  Abraham  himself,  could 
not  but  have  a  sensible  eS'ect  on  his  numerous  domes- 
tics, who  were  of  various  countries,  and  upon  the 
princes  wiih  whom  he  came  into  connexion  ;  and  for 
this  very  end  probably  it  was,  that  Providence  kept 
him  wandering  from  place  to  place.  By  means  of 
their  intercourse  with  Abraham,  we  know  that  Pha- 
raoh and  jVbimelech  attained  at  least  a  certain  degree 
of  acquaintance  with  the  true  God.  We  find,  in  like 
manner,  Job,  at  whatever  period  he  lived,  and  his 
three  friends,  in  Arabia,  and  particularly  Elihu  of  the 
kindred  of  Ram,  discovering  very  profound  knowledge 
in  divine  things ;  and  Jethro,  the  father-in-law  of 
Moses,  in  the  land  of  Midian,  appears  evidently  to 
have  possessed  the  same  advantage.  It  is  not  there- 
fore matter  of  very  great  surprise,  that  Balaam,  a 
stranger  and  an  enemy  to  the  commonwealth  of  Israel, 
should  enjoy  this  advantage  in  common  with  many  of 
Iiis  neighbors,  and  that  he  should  have  made  such  an 
indifferent  use  of  it :  this  alas,  being  the  misery  of 
multitudes,  v\ ho  are  favored  with  a  still  clearer  light 
than  he  was.  Neither  will  it  excite  wonder,  if  we 
find  superstitious  and  idolatrous  rites  gradually  blend- 
ing with  the  worship  of  the  great  Jehovah.  Laban, 
though  not  to  be  set  down  as  wholly  given  to  idolatry, 
long  before  the  period  now  under  review,  had  his  Te- 
rapiiinj,  or  household  gods,  which  he  highly  prized, 
either  as  objects  of  religious  veneration,  or  on  ac- 
count of  the  precious  materials  of  which  they  were 
composed.  And  this  too  will  in  part  account  for  that 
stran.oe  mixture  which  we  find  in  the  character  of  Ba- 
laam,  his  sudden  transits  in  from  the  acknowledgment 
of  the  God  of  Israel,  to  a  participation  in  the  profane 
rites  employed  in  the  worship  of  the  idols  of  Balak 
and  Moab. 

But,  notwithstanding  this   odious   and  abominable 
mixture,  wc  observe  in  more  than  one  instance,  the 


LECT.  Xlll.  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  425 

great  God  winking  at  these  times  of  ignorance  and 
condescending  to  make  known  his  will,  even  to  men 
who  were  daily  insultnjg  him  by  tiieir  abominations, 
as  in  the  case  of  Pharaoh  and  Abimelech  ah'eady  men- 
tioned, as  in  the  case  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  tlie  gros- 
sest of  idolaters,  many  ages  afterwards,  and  in  llie 
case  before  us.  All  this  leads  to  make  an  obvious  and 
an  important  distinction,  between  the  extraordinaiy 
g-ilts  and  the  gi  ace.^  of  God's  Spirit.  Jt  is  one  tliitig 
to  have  a  clear,  enlightened  head,  and  another,  to 
have  an  atftctionate  and  obedient  heart.  It  is  a  l>k:>- 
sed  union  where  they  meet,  but  the  former  without 
the  latter  only  renders^  wickedness  more  con>picuous, 
and  condemnation  more  just.  The  charge  alas  !  does 
not  stop  at  wicked,  covetous  Balaam;  it  was  matter 
of  complaint  down  to  the  days  of  Micah,  and  of  pro- 
phets (jf  a  ditTerCnt  description.  "  The  heads"  of  God's 
people  judge  "  for  reward,  and  the  priests  thereol  tt-ach 
tor  hire,  and  the  prophets  divine  for  money."  And 
our  blessed  Lord,  to  level  all  ccnfidejice  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  choicest  gifts,  assure  us,  that  many  shall 
say  to  him  in  the  great  day,  "  Lord,  Lord,  ha\e  we 
not  prophesied  in  thy  name .'  and  in  tliy  name  have 
cast  out  devils  ?  and  in  thy  name  done  many  wonder- 
ful works  ?  And  then  will  I  profess  unto  them,  I  iiever 
knew  you:  depart  from  me  ye  that  work  iniquitv," 
Matt.  vii.   22,  2.'J. 

We  observe  farther,  that  though  God  was  sometimes 
pleased  to  bestow  the  gift  of  prophecy  upon  the  un- 
worthy, t!je  prediction,  though  uttered  by  unholy  lips, 
was  the  truth  of^God,  which  no  weakness,  perverse- 
ncss,  nor  disinclination  of  the  prophet  was  able  eithi  r 
to  alter  or  suppiess.  *'  For  the  prophecy  came  not  in 
old  time  by  the  will  of  man:  but  hoiy  m^m  of  God 
spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,''  2  Pet. 
i.  21.  They  spake  under  an  irresistible  impulse;  thev 
spake  sometimes  what  they  understood  not,  and  what 
they  would    have    concealed,    li'  they   could.     Thu* 

VQL.    u.  3  I 


420  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM,  LECT.    XIII^ 

Caiphas,  the  avowed  enemy  of  our  blessed  Lord,  ut- 
tered a  notable  prophecy  concerning  him,  not  know- 
ing- what  he  said.  Thus  Jeremiah,  disgusted  with  the 
ill  Mi'jcess  of  his  preaching,  finding  the  word  of  the 
Lord  made  a  reproach  and  a  derision  daily,  by  the 
thoaghtiess-  men  of  his  generaton,  resolved  not  to 
make  mention  of  him.  nor  speak  any  more  in  his  name. 
"  But,"  says  he,  **  his  word  was  in  mine  heart,  as  a 
bvirniiig  fire  shut  up  in  my  bones,  and  I  was  weary 
With  iotbearine:,  and  1  could  not  stav.V  And  Jose- 
]>luis,  in  perfect  consistency  with  the  character  of  Ba- 
laam, as  drawn  b}'  Moses,  puts  into  liis  mouth  Ihisad- 
<lress  to  the  king  of  Moab,  who  upbraided  him  wi!h 
])reach  ol"  agreement,  in  [)ronouncing  the  warmest  of 
be]"!e<licti()ns,  where  he  w  as  expressly  hired  lo  curse 
"  Can  you  imagine,  that  when  prompted  by  the  Spirit 
of  God  to  disclose  futurity,  it  depends  on.  U5  to  be  si- 
lent, or  to  speak  out  r  He  makes  our  voices  the 
vehicles. of  liis  will,  without  permitting  us  a  choice  in. 
the  matter.  1  v.eil  remember  for  \\ hat  purpose  the 
joint  entreaties  of  you  and  the  Midianites  have  brought 
me  [lither.  1  have  undertaken  thisjourney  with  a  fix- 
ed determination  to  favor  your  earnest  wishes;  but 
God  is  more  powerful  than  the  bent  of  m v  inclination, 
whidi  aimed  at  tlie  gratification  of  your  desires.  For 
wlien  lie  takes  j.mssession  of  our  loinds,  he  occupies 
them  wholly,  and  leaves  us  nothing  of  our  own.  I 
iiad  nothing  less  in  my  intention,  than  to  trumpet  the 
p,(i;ises  of  lljis  mighty  host,  or  to  display  the  blessings 
which  God  has  in  reserve  for  tins  favored  race.  But 
being  graciously  disposed  towards  tljiem,  and  determin- 
ed to  exalt  them  to  the  highest  pinnacle  of  glory  and 
feliciiy,  He  suggested  to  me  the  predictions  which  I 
could  not  but  utter.''* 

Sometimes    the    representation    of  some    dreadful 
punishment,  to  be  instantly  iniiicted,  if  they  dared  t<> 

*  Joseph.  Antiq.  lib.  IV.  cap.  lY . 


-LEC-T.  XUl.  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  427 

falsify  the  oracle  committed  to  ihem,  might  serve  as 
a  curb  to  their  own  natural  and  unruly  propensities, 
and,  sometimes  carried  wliolly  out  of  themselves,  they 
delivered  m  an  extacy,  what  was  committed  to  them, 
unconscious  of  what  they  said  or  did.  In  the  prose- 
cution of  the  history,  we  shall  tind  Balaam  under  both 
these  kinds  of  inspiration  ;  both  awed  by  fear,  and 
wrapt  into  the  vision  of  futurity,  in  a  trance. 

1  only  make  one  observation  more,  for  the  clearing 
up  ol  this  remarkable  story.  It  was  a  generally  receiv- 
ed opinion  among  the  Gentile  nations,  that  prophet:--, 
or  diviners,  had  a  power,  by  means  of  incantation,  to 
inflict  or  to  remove  public  calamities;  that  they  un- 
derstood the  art  of  decoying  from  among  their  enemies 
the  tutelar  deities  who  presided  over  them  ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  they  were  easily  and  certainly  discom- 
fited. Homer  makes  the  capture  of  Troy  to  depend 
on  the  rc(noval  of  the  sacred  image  of  Minerva  fiom 
its  residence  in  the  citadel  of  that  metropolis  :  and 
Joihua  himself,  in  the  conquest  of  Canaan,  takes  ad- 
vantage of  this  vulgar  prejudice,  to  encourage  his  men 
to  proceed  to  victory  ;  and  to  prevent  the  ill  effects  of 
the  timid  and  terrifying  report  of  his  colleagues,  re- 
specting the  strength  of  the  country.  "  Rebel  not  ye 
against  the  Lord,  neilher  tear  ye  the  people  of  the 
land  ;  fur  they  are  bread  for  us  :  their  defence  is  de- 
parted from  them,  and  the  Lord  is  with  us:  fear 
them  not,"  Numb,  xiv,  Q.  It  was  accordingly  usual, 
on  undei taking  military  expeditions,  to  iierve  the 
arm,  and  to  whet  the  sword  of"  the  soldier,  by  the 
tongue  of  the;  priest,  and  the  trenieiiduus  fortns  of  re- 
ligion. They  attempted  to  make  the  gods  par. '■.i as  to 
their  quarrels,  anil  devoted  to  perdition  tiie  nations 
against  whom  they  waged  war.  An  ancien:  antlior 
has  transmitted  to  us  the  form  of  execration  eai ployed 
on  such  (  ccasions,  which,  on  account  of"  its  r(  latioii  to 
our  subject,  perhaps  you  will  iiave  the  cuiiosity  to 
iiear.     It  is  a  peiitct  contrast   to  the  blesbin3  v.  hxh 


498  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  LECT.  XIIT. 

Balaam  was  obliged,  reluctantly  to  pronounce  upon 
Isiaei.  The  priest  destined  to  ihis  awful  employment, 
after  presenting  the  usual  sacrilice,  advanced  to  the 
head  of  the  army,  and  m  the  presence  of  the  general 
and  principal  officers,  pronounced  aioud,  words  to  this 
effect.  "  Almighty  Father  of  gods  and  men,  or  if 
thuu  wouldst  rather  be  addressed  b}^  the  name  of  Ju- 
piter, or  if  any  other  appellation  be  more  grateful  to 
thine  lar;  pour  out,  I  conjure  thee,  upon  this  armv," 
or  "  ihis  city,"  according  as  the  case  required,  the  spi- 
rit of  t(-rror  and  «lismay  :  deprive  of  the  sight  of  their 
eye.s,  all  tljose  who  shall  level  their  blows  at  us,  our  le- 
gions or  troops,  spread  darkness  over  our  enemies, 
o  ff  their  cities,  over  their  fields,  over  their  armies. 
L  jok  Uj)on  them  as  a  thing  accursed  :  bring  them 
under  the  hardest  conditions  that  ever  an  enemy  was 
constrained  to  undergo.  As  for  me,  to  destruction  I 
hereby  devote  them  ;  my  curse  I  pour  upon  them,  and 
t;  ke  this  prince,  these  captains,  this  people,  to  be  wit- 
nesses to  it,"*  This  ceremony  being  performed,  and 
tije  soldiers  inspirited  by  the  sanctions  of  religion,  they 
advanced  to  the  combat,  in  confidence  of  success. 

It  was  for  a  purpose  of  this  kind,  that  Balaam  was 
now  sent  for  by  the  confederated  powers  of  Moab  and 
Midian.  How  the  latter  of  these  two  nations  had  been 
i.i.iuced  to  join  in  such  an  embassy,  we  are  not  informed. 
The  middle  forty  years  of  his  hie,  Aloses  liad  spent 
among  that  people  ;  had  formed  alliance  with  them  by 
marrying  thedaugter  o(  Jethro,  one  of  the  jirinces  of 
the  country,  with  whom  lie  maintained  a  most  friendly 
correspondence,  after  he  was  raised  to  the  command 
of  tlie  armies  of  Israel.  He  cannot,  therefore,  be  sus- 
pected of  ibrming  a  hostile  design  against  his  ancient 
hosts  and  relations;  and  it  was  much  more  natural 
for  them  to  form  an  alliance  with  a  man  of  Moses*  well 
knoun    wisdom   and  moderation,  and  with    a   people 

*  Mocrob  Saturnal.  lib.  III.  cap.   IX. 


■^ 


LECT.  XIII.  HISTORY  01-   BALAAM.  A'20 

SO  sensibly  favored  of  Heaven  as  Israel  was,  than  with 
a  nation  ot  idolaters,  and  a  prince,  who  was  reduced 
to  employ  the  poor  arts  ol  incantation  against  his  ene- 
mies. 13iit,  in  many  cases  it  liap[<ens,  that,  aiming  at  an 
ovei-relin'  d  visdom  and  [Kilicy,  men  prove  themselves 
fools.  Jethro  was  probalily  by  this  lime  dead,  and  the 
Midianidsh  estaie  was  j^overned  l)y  councils,  very  un- 
like those  which  would  probably  have  been  suggested 
by  that  wise  and  good  man  :  and  a  deputation  of 
their  princes  joins  those  of  Balak,  in  application  to 
Balaam,  to  strengthen  their  united  forces,  by  laying 
Israel  under  a  curse. 

It  is  meiancljuly  to  think  that  from  the  beginning 
to  this  day,  men  liave  been  more  eager  to  l)riiig  mis- 
chief upon  others,  than  to  procure  good  to  them- 
selves. Had  these  Midianites  and  Moabites  associat- 
ed together  to  strengthen  their  borders,  had  they  in- 
vited a  prophet  to  coaie  and  confirm  their  bands  uf  al- 
liance, and  encourage  the  hearts  of  their  soldiery,  by 
pronouncing  a  blessing  upon  themselves,  i hey  had  not 
been  reprehensible  ;  but  such  is  the  curruption  and 
malignity  ot  the  human  heart,  that  it  not  only  takes 
pleasure  in  the  exil  tliat  befals  anotiier,  where  our  own 
interest  is  concerned,  but  in  the  very  mischief  that  is 
wrought  for  mischief  sake.  The  great  evil  is,  men  en- 
gage in  transitory  pursuits  as  if  they  were  immortal; 
and  had  they  the  jjuwer,  together  with  the  inclination, 
would  prosecute  mumentary  offences  with  "everlasting 
punishments.  Wliat  is  it  to  one  nation  that  t!nother 
great  nation  beutteily  exterminated,  provided  a  favo- 
rite scheme  of  ambition,  commerce  or  revenge  be 
therel)y  promoted  !  When  we  hear  a  poor  wretch,  a 
common  curser  and  swearer,  on  the  most  frivolous  oc- 
casions, imprecating  eternal  damnation  on  his  fellow- 
creature,  we  are  tilled  with  horror;  and  yet  without 
surprise,  we  behold  religious  sects  in  their  zeal,  and 
mighty  empires  in  their  pride  and  fury,  deliberately 
doing  the  same  thing.     What  principle  so  important 


430 


HISTORY  OF  BALAAM. 


LECT.  xnu 


to  individuals  and  to  states,  as  a  principle  of  true  reli- 
gion !  It  is  a  comforter  in  affliction,  a  counsellor  m 
darkness  and  uncertainty,  a  rei'uge  in  danger  and  dis- 
tress, a  support  m  dtatli,  Wliat  so  seducuve  and 
niiscliievou;.  as  an  erroneous  principle  of  tiiis  sort  !  "  W 
the  Ji^ljt  tliat  is  in  men  be  darkness,  bow  great  is  that 
darkness  ?"  Fal^e  religion  is  a  wandering  fne  of  the 
night,  hurrying  men  over  a  precipice  ;  plunging  thtni 
in  the  gulpli... pretending  to  bring  a  tribule  of  glory  to 
God,  by  destroying  mankind,  it  is  tlie  spirit  of  the 
great  enemy  of  God  and  man,  who  is  a  liar  and  a 
murderer  from  the  begnining. 

It  is  the  perilousness  of  the  times  that  has  tossed 
Balaam  into  notice,  and  conse([uence  and  infamy.  In 
a  quieter  period,  he  had  floated  unnoticed  on  the  sur- 
face, and  silently  increased  the  paltry  gains  of  his 
black  art,  by  playing  on  the  credulity  of  silly  women 
and  children.  But  the  old  wizard  has  had  the  good 
fortune  to  attract  the  notice  of  princes,  and  has  the  op- 
portunity of  selling  his  magical  spells  at  his  own  pricey 
and  he  fails  not  to  make  the  most  of  his  market. 
With  thecliie  afforded  us  in  scripture,  we  will  attempt 
in  anotlier  Lecture,  to  Ibllow  the  various  turnings  and 
windings  of  that  prolbundest,  darkest,  most  intricate 
of  all  labyrinths,  a  carnal,  covetous  heart.  We  con- 
clude tlie  present  with  calling  upon  you: 

I.  To  remaik  and  to  revere  the  righteous  judgment 
of  God,  in  giving  up  to  strong  delusion  those  who 
seek  and  follow  delusions.  Eveiy  deliberate  violation 
of  God's  law,  every  victory  which  a  man  gains  o\er 
his  own  conscience,  becomes  his  punifehment,  as  it  is 
his  crime.  Let  not  him  who  has  wilfully  deceived  iiim- 
self,  in  the  first  instance,  pretend  to  complain  that  he 
has  been  hui  ried  into  mistakes  which  he  never  intended, 
but  could  not  avoid.  The  Jirat  wrong  step  was  ni  his 
power,  but  not  \.\\v  fourth  or  i\w  fifth.  The  man  need- 
ed not,  unless  he  ciiOse,  to  have  set  himself  a  running 
down  a  steep  place  ;  but,  once  in  motion,  it  is  not  m 


LECr,    XIII.  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM".  4.^1 

?ils  power  to  slop  when  he  would.  If  therefore  he  pluiigt? 
itilo  the  lioofl,  heneafh,  the  fault  is  iti  himself,  not  i he 
laus  of  motion,  which  only  (.'arried  on  wiiat  his  own 
will  had  hegijn.  I  he  man  who  lias  destroyed  his  fa- 
cnllies  hy  excess,  must  not  charae  his  bad  memory^ 
his  erroneous  ju<li;ment,  or  the  inconvenience's  in 
which  ihey  have  involved  him,  upon  natju'c,  or  the 
God  of  nature.  No,  they  only  establish  the  work  of 
his  own  hands.  In  tliis  view,  it  is  perfectly  just,  that 
"  to  him  who  hath  should  more  be  given,  and  liom 
him  who  hath  not,  even  tliat  which  he  hath  should  be 
taken  away." 

il.  Let  us  rejoice  that  we  have  a  clear  and  "  sure 
word  of  prophecy,"  to  direct  and  assist  us  in  every 
doubtful  and  difilcult  case  ;  and  that  "  the  tes- 
timony of  Jesus  is  the  sj)irit  of  prophecy."  The 
gift  of  prophecy  was  not  always  a  blessing  to  ihe 
possessor ;  and,  as  the  mere  knowledge  of  future 
events,  it  would  be  the  reverse  of  a  blessing.  In  ten- 
der mercy  and  in  loving  kindness,  God  conceals  futurify 
fram  men.  But  all  that  pertains  to  the  acquisition  of 
wisdom,  and  the  attainment  of  happiness;  all  that  as- 
sures us  of  life  and  immortality,  and  makes  us  meet  for 
the  enjoyment  of  it,  the  words  of  this  prophecy 
fully  unfold.  *'  The  right?Sousness  of  faith  speakeiii 
on  this  wise.  Say  not  in  thine  heart,  who  shall  ascend 
into  lieaven  ?  (that  is,  to  bring  Christ  down  from 
above)  or,  who  shall  descend  into  thr  deep  ?  (that  is,  to 
bring  up  Clirist  again  from  the  dead.)  But  what  saith  it? 
Tie  word  is  n'gh  thee,  even  in  thy  moutli,  and  in  thv 
heart:  that  is,  the  word  of  faith  which  we  preach. 
That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  month  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath 
raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved,"  Rom. 
X.  6... 9-  To  know  but  tliis,  is  more  than  to  "  speak 
with  the  tongues  of  men  and  of  angels". ..is  more  than 
to  "  have  the  gift  of  prophecy,  and  to  understand  all 
mysteries  and  all  knowledge  j  and  to  have  all  faith,  so 


432  HISTORY   OF  BALAAM.  LECT.  XIII. 

as  to  be  able  to  remove  mountains."  "  Covet  earnestly 
the  best  gilts;"  but  rather  ciil  ivate  the  fruits  of  the 
Spirit,  *'  love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffering,  gentleness, 
goodness,  faith,  meekness,  temperance  :  against  such 
there  is  no  law,"  Gal.  v.  2'2,  23. 

III.  While  we  admire  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of 
God,  in  counteracting  the  intention  of  wicked  Balaam, 
and  turning  the  curse  in  hi^s  moutl)  into  a  blessing,  let 
us  bow  the  knee  in  gratitude  to  that  great  PrDphet, 
who  has  fully,  and  forever,  done  away  the  curse  ;  let  us 
give  glory  to  "  God,  who  hath  sent  his  Son  Christ  Jesus 
to  bless  every  one  of  us,  in  turning  us  from  our  ini- 
quities ;"  and  to  introduce  us  into  more  than  an  Eden, 
more  than  a  Canaan,  even  into  the  paradise  of  God  ; 
where  there  is  "  no  more  curse"...**  where  God  sljall 
wipe  all  tears  from  our  eyes;  and  there  shall  be  no 
more  death,  neither  sorrow,  nor  crying,  neither  shall 
there  be  any  more  pain  :  for  the  former  things  are 
passed  away,"  Rev.  xxi.  4. 

IV.  While  we  behold  the  madness  of  the  prophet 
...a  heart  hardened  through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin, 
let  us  tremble  to  think  that  the  seeds  of  this  very  sin  are 
implanted  deeply  in  our  own  nature  ;  that  they  have 
even  discovered  their  baleful  shoots:  that  thev  bjinc: 
forth  fruit  unto  death.  EVerv  plant  which  our  liea- 
venly  Father  hath  not  planted,  shall  be  jducked  up 
and  rooted  out ;  and  this  is  one  of  them.  Look  to  it 
carefully,  Oman:  watch  it  with  a  holy  jealousy.  It 
is "  the  root  of  all  evil."  "  Love  not  the  world, 
neither  the  things  that  are  in  ihp  world.  If  any  man 
love  the  world,  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  him. 
For  all  that  is  in  the  world,  the  lust  of  the  ilesh, 
and  tlie  lust  of  the  eye,  and  the  pride  of  life,  is  not  of 
the  Father,  but  is  of  the  world.  And  the  world  pas- 
set  h  away,  and  the  lust  thereof;  but  he  that  doeth 
the  will  of  God,  abideth  forever,"    1  John  ii.  1.5...  17- 


HISTORY   OF  BALAAM. 


LECTURE  XIV. 

And  Balaam  rose  up  in  ilie  mornings  and  saddled  his 
ass,  and  zvent  zvith  the  princes  of  Moab....'S\JMB. 
xxii.  21. 

^IP^HE  eagerness  which  men  discover  in  pursuing 
JL  the  objects  of  time  and  sense,  is  a  melancholy 
contrast  to  their  coldness  and  indifference  respecting 
the  things  of  God  and  eternity.  Tlie  carnal  mind 
needs  but  a  hint  to  attach  itself  to  the  pursuit  of  riches, 
pleasure  or  honor ;  and  when  engaged,  no  argument 
is  of  weight  sufficient  to  dissuade  ;  no  danger  intimi- 
dates, no  difficulty  discourages.  The  understanding 
becomes  the  dupe  of  the  passions,  conscience  is  led 
hoodwinked  by  appetite,  and  the  man  is  shamefully 
sunk  in  the  brute.  But  the  alarm  must  be  louder 
than  thunder,  which  awakens  the  thoughtless,  the 
sensual  and  the  selfish  to  serious  reflection  ;  and  it 
must  be  repeated  every  hour,  else  they  will  slumber 
and  sleep  again. 

Water  has  in  its  natural  coldness  a  tendency  to  con- 
geal ;  and,  once  reduced  to  ice,  has  no  principle  in  it- 
self to  recover  from  that  torpid  state.  The  cause  of 
change  must  come  from  without.  To  dissolve  and 
restore  it  to  its  liquid  state,  the  sun  must  shine,  the 
wind  must  blow  ;  withdraw  the  action  of  air  and  fire, 
and  it  will  gradually  freeze  again.  In  like  manner, 
without  any  cause  from  without,  the  human  body,  by 

vol..  II.  S  K 


434  wiSTORY  or  balaam.  lect.  xzv. 

a  principle  of  corruption  within  itself,  must  speedily 
di^ssoive  and  be  destroyed  ;  and  the  human  mind,  by  a 
similar  internal  principle  of  moral  corruption,  degcne- 
lates  from  depra\ ity  to  depravity,  till,  -lost  to  shame, 
fear,  remorse,  and,  at  length,  to  feeling,  men  come  to 
commit  iniquity  with  greediness,  and  to  glory  in  their 
shame.  To  preserve  the  body  in  life,  there  must  be 
constant  supplies  of  nourishment  administered  ;  and 
to  preserve  the  soul  in  health,  there  must  be  "  line; 
upon  line,  precept  upon  precept,  here  a  little  and  there 
«■  little." 

It  is  truly  affecting  to  see  men  enlightened  and  per- 
suaded, yet  wedded  to  their  lusts  ;  clearly  inforuied  of 
the  right  path,  but  wilfully  and  deliberately  persisting 
in  error ;,  hardening  themselves  against  God  and  yet 
thinking  to  prosper ;  acknowledging  God  in  words, 
but  in  works  denying  him. 

These  observations  are  all  strikingly  exemplified  in 
the  character  and  conduct  of  Balaam,  of  which  we  at- 
tempted to  give  you  a  general  idea  in  the  last  Lecture, 
and  to  which  were  added  some  observations  tending 
to  elucidate  his  singular  history.  We  are  now  to  en- 
ter on  the  particular  detail  of  it,  as  it  is  delivered  in 
the  sacred  record. 

The  Israelitish  nation  was  now  in  the  last  year  of 
their  peregrination  through  the  wilderness  ;  their  civil 
and  religious  government  were  fully  settled,  and  the 
theocracy  finally  established.  Tlicy  A\ere  now  ap- 
proaching the  banks  of  the  Jordan  :  and  by  their 
numl;er,  order  and  diocipliiie,  striking  terror  into  all 
the  neighboring  nations.  Two  kings,  their  armies  and 
their  people,  ha\e  already  faUen  before  their  victorious 
arms  ;  and  nothmg  is  left  to  opjjose  iheir  progress  to 
Canaan,  but  the  river,  tlie  boundary  itself  of  the  pro- 
mised land.  They  pitch  their  camp  quietly  in  the 
plains  of  Moab,  expcciing  the  signal  from  their  divine 
leader  and  commander  to  pass  over,  conquer,  and  take 
possession.     Their  ^varlike  array  and  recent  successes^ 


lECT.  XIV.  HISTORY  O?   BALAAM.  435 

have  alarmed  the  apprehensions  of  Balak,  king  of 
Moab,  as  their  prosperity  and  prospects  had  excited 
his  envy  and  jealousy.  D  iflident  of  his  strength,  either 
to  repel  invasion,  if  attacked  by  so  poweifiil  an  adver- 
sary, or  to  attack  them  first,  and  endeavor  to  obstruct 
their  progress,  he  enters  into  an  alliance  with  the  peo- 
ple of  Midian,  for  their  mutual  security  and  defence. 
And  even  then,  still  doubtful  of  the  force  of  their 
united  arms,  they  agree  to  employ  the  arts  of  divina- 
tion in  aid  of  the  sword,  and  dream  of  conquering  by 
the  power  of  enchantment,  those  whom  they  were 
afraid  to  encounter  in  the  field.  To  such  base,  such 
wretched  shifts  do  princes  and  nations  resort,  to  gra- 
tify pride,  ambition  or  revenge.  For  this  purpose, 
they  send  a  joint  embassy  to  Balaam,  the  son  of  Boer, 
a  noted  soothsayer  in  the  neighborhood. 

Balak  and  Moab  had  degenerated  from  the  faith  of 
Lot,  their  forefather,  and  were  sunk  into  idolatry  ;  it 
is  therefore  no  wonder  to  see  them  of  a  jealous  and  hos- 
tile spirit  towards  Israel,  their  brother.  A  principle  of 
religion,  consisting  in  the  fear  and  love  of  God,  is  the 
great  bond  of  union  among  men ;  it  strengthens  the 
ties  of  natural  affection,  and  even  conciliates  friend- 
ship between  enemies;  but  i; religion,  or  what  is 
•worse,  an  erroneous  principle  ot  religion,  turns  men 
loose  against  each  other,  dissolves  society,  and  fattens 
the  earth  with  human  blood.  We  cannot  help  recol- 
lecting, alas  !  that  Abraham  and  Lot,  the  uncle  and 
nephew,  the  progenitors  of  the  two  nations,  were  under 
the  necessity  of  separating  from  each  other,  on  account 
of  their  increasing  wealth  ;  and  we  see,  many  years 
after  they  were  laid  in  the  dust,  the  self-same  cause, 
whetting  the  spirits  and  the  swords  of  their  posterity, 
and  arming  them  for  their  mutual  destruction.  The 
whole  world  is  a  possession  too  scanty  for  avarice  and 
ambition  ;  the  success  of  one  seems  to  be  a  diminution 
of  the  happiness  of  another  ;  and  even  the  immense 
ocean  is  crimsoned  with  gore,  that  one  may  enjoy  sole 


436  HISTORY   or   BALAAM.  LECT.  XIV. 

and  sullen  empire ;  as  if  that  vast  space  could  not  ac- 
commodate the  operations  of  two  tribes  of  ants  on 
yonder  mole-hill.  Blessed  world,  where  envy  and 
strife  shall  rage  no  more  ;  where  there  is  bread  enough 
and  to  spare,  room  enough  and  to  spare  ;  where  the 
felicity  of  every  one  is  an  accession  of  felicity  to  every 
one ! 

Balaam  is  described  in  scripture  by  his  parentage, 
his  country  and  profession.     He  was  the  son  of  Boer, 
or  Bosor,  the  difference  of  which  pronunciation  is  ac- 
counted for,  from  the  difference  of  dialect  in  the  orien- 
tal  languages.     The  father  exists  to  us  only  in  his 
name,  and  in  the  history  of  his  son  :  and  happy -had  it 
been  for  that  son,  to  have  left  behind  him  nothing  too 
but  a  mere  name,  instead  of  one  loaded  with  infamy 
and  detestation.     Pcthor,  the  place  of  his   residence, 
was  a  city  of  Aram,  or  Mesopotamia,  the  very  coun- 
try ^^here  Abraham  himself  was  born,  and  where  he 
resided  till  his  seventy-fifth  year ;  the  native  country 
of  Rebekah,  the  wife  of  Isaac  ;  the  country  where 
Jacob  passed  a  great  part  of  his  youthful  years  ;  where 
he  married  ;  where  all  his  children,  except  Benjamin, 
were  born,  and   whence  he  obtained   the  name  of  a 
Syrian.     Pethor  was  situated  on  the  river  Euphrates, 
called  the  river,  by  way  of  eminence  or  distinction,  it 
being  the  largest  in  the  country  ;  and  thence,  in  many 
passages  of  scripture,  styled   the  great   river.     The 
country  adjacent,  to  a  vast   distance,  being  plain,  it 
was  favorable  to  the  observation  of  the  heavenly  bo- 
dies ;  and  accordingly  we  find  the  science  of  astronomy 
was  early  cultivated  there  ;  and  the  pretended  science 
of  astrology,  that  is,    the  power  of  foretelling  future 
events,  from  the  appearances  and  supposed  influence 
of  the  stars,  was  speedily  grafted  upon   it.     Pride, 
presumption,  and  a  little  knowledge,  soon  arrogated  to 
themselves  a  power  of  controlling  these  great  lumina- 
ries, which  seem  in  perpetual  motion  to  encompass 
?)ur  earth,  and  of  suspending  or  altering  their  influen- 


LZCl   XIV.  MISTORY   OF    BALAAM.  -437 

ccs;  and  ignorance,  superstition  and  credulity  easily 
admitted  the  insolent  claim,  iind  resorted  to  it.  This 
was  apparently  the  profession  of  Balaam,  lor  in  the 
book  of  Joshua  he  is  expressly  termed  "  th;'  sooth- 
saver."  It  was  probably  to  his  skill  and  power  as  an 
as'trolo,a:cr,  that  Balak  had  recourse  for  assistance 
against  larac',  and  when  we  come  to  liis  prophecy  itself, 
shall  meet  with  some,  and  these  not  cuscure,  allu.^ions 
to  that  art. 

The  message   put  into  the   mourns  of   these  am- 
bassadors, is   strongly   expressive  of  terror  and   con- 
sternation.  "  There  is  a  peop'e  come  out  from  Egypt : 
b.'hold,  they  cover  the  lace  of  the  earth,  and  they  abide 
over  against  me,"  Verse  5.     The  dreadful  plagues  in- 
flicted on  Egypt,  in  eftecting  Israel's  deliverance,   Iiad 
been  heard  at  the  distance  of  Moab  ;  and  though  forty 
years   have    elapsed,  they  are  neither   lorgotten,   nor 
have  lost  their  impression.     Fear  ever  magnifies   its 
object ;   "  they  cover  the  face  of  the  earth  :"  the  word 
is,  the  eye  or  sight  of  the  earth  ;  their  tents  extend  so 
far,   that  the  eaitii  and  they  seem  to  ha-\e  one   limit, 
and  they  are  marshalled  so  close,  that  no  gixmnd  can 
be  seen.     Another  image,   strongly  expressive  of  the 
same  passion,  is  that  in  the  fourth  verse.      *'  Now  will 
this  company  lick  up  all  that  are  roundabout  us,  as  the 
ox  licketh  up  the  grass  of  the  field."     "  Lick   up," 
it  is  the  same  word  which  is  used  1  Kings  xviii.  38, 
to  express  the  action  of  devooring  fire.     "  'Jlien  the 
fire  of  the  Lord  fell,  and  consumed  the  burnt  sacrifice, 
and  the  wood,  and  the  stones,  and  the  dust,  and  licked 
up  the  water  that  was  in  the  trench,"    1  Kings  xviii. 
38.     The  ox,  as  he  feeds  ealmly  and  stately  along,  em- 
ploys his  t(>ngue  only,  and  the  grass  pei  islieth  witlvjut 
pushing  with  the  horn,  or  stamping  with  the  foot,  ac- 
tions that-denote  strength  and  exertion,  but  by  the  easy 
motion  of  a  soft  and   pliant  film  of  ilc^h,    ht   sweeps 
away  all  before  him  ;  thus  easily  and  certainly,   Baiak 


458  HISTOBY  OF  BALAAM.  LECT  XIV. 

apprehends,  was  Israel  advancing  to  his  and  his  peo- 
ple's destruction. 

And  how  was  this  approaching  plague  to  be  resisted 
or  averted?  "  Come  now  therefore,  1  pray  thee,  curse 
rnc  this  people,  for  they  are  too  mighty  for  me  :  perad- 
venture  I  shall  prevail,  that  we  may  smite  them,  and 
that  I  may  drive  them  out  of  the  land  :  for  I  wot  that 
he  whom  thou  blessest  is  blessed,  and  he  whom  thou 
cursest  is  cursed,"  Verse  6.     We  have  here  an  assem- 

'  biagc  of  all  the  baser  and  more  contemptible  passions 
of  the  human  mind,  called  forth  and  led  on  by  the  pre- 
dominant one  of  fear  :   a  low,  grovelling   superstition, 

^expecting from  magical  spells,  what  ought  to  have  been 

■. soir^hi^for  from  wisdom  and  valor:  unprovoked  vio- 
lence and  cruelty,  in  seeking  the  destruction  of  a  peo- 
ple, who  were  dwelling  peaceably  by  him,  and 
who  had  given  such  strong  and  recent  proof  of  their 
moderation,  in  submitting  to  a  tedious  and  difficult 
march  round  the  whole  land  of  Edom,  rather  than  of- 
fend an  unkind  brother,  who  had  refused  a  passage  ■ 
through  his  land,  which  they  could  easily  have  cut 
with  the  sword  :  and  unmanl}-,  abject  adulation  of  a 
vile  wizard,- whom  he  supposed  capable  oF  serving  his 
turn.  On  the  other  hand,  the  two  great  leading  passions 
of  Balaam's  soul,  vanity  and  covetousness,  were  likely 
to  be  gratified  to  the  full.  How  would  his  heart  exult, 
to  see  a  tr.un  of  princes  standing  at  his  gate,  and  pre- 
sents worthy  of  kings  to  bestow,  poured  down  at  his 
feet !  A  prophet  indeed,  would  have  known  from  the 
beginning,  that  the  application  was  nugatory,  and  that 
it  must  come  to  nothing ;  and  an  honest  man  would 
have  rejected  it  with  firmness,  and  persevered  in  that 
rejection.  But  we  see  his  heart  is  won  from  the  first 
moment,  and  all  that  follows  is  a  wretched  struggle 
between  inclination  and  conscience,  in  which  the  for- 
mer, at  length,  carries  off  the  victory. 

He  receives  the  messengers  with  great  courtesy,  and 


lECT.XIV.  JtlSTOKY   OF    BAlAAM.  -439 

accommodcs  them  in  1/is  house  ;  for  even  a  miser  can 
be  hospitable,  if  he  I^c  sure  of  g-aininj^  by  it.  Abra- 
ham's bcrvant,  followed  by  a  camel  loaded  with  the 
good  things  of  Canaan,  can  easily  force  open  the  doors 
of  such  a  man  as  Laban,  or  Balaam.  He  affects  an  air 
of  great  mvstcry  ;  he  cannot  give  his  response  imme. 
diately.  Night,  the  season  of  incantation  and  dreams, 
must  intervene ;  and,  horrible  to  think,  the  great  and 
dreadful  name  of  Jehovah  is  interposed,  to  sanction 
and  conceal  the  m  icked  purposes  of  a  heart  hunting  af- 
ter its  covctousness ;  and  he  promises  to  report  in  the 
morning  the  result  of  iiis  consultation.  How  faith- 
fully the  report  Avas  made,  the  sequel  will  shew. 

It  apj-iears,  on  the  face  of  the  history,  that  God  wait- 
ed not  for  an  application  from  Balaam,  concerning  this 
business,   but  whether   in  a  dream,   a  vision,   or  by  a 
voice,  prevented  him,  with  an  inquiry  concerning  the 
deputation  from  Moab.     Jn  many  instances,   Jehovah 
is  represented  as  drawing  information  from  men's  own 
mouths,  of  what  evidently  lay  revealed  to  his  all-see- 
ing eye,  and  thus  making  their  folly  and  wickedness  to 
expose,   reprove,  and  condemn   themselves.     "  And 
God  came  unto  Balaam,  and  said,  What  men  are  these 
with  thee,"  Verse  9.     This  question  must  have  put 
the  prophet  into  great  agitation.     Awful   is  the  voice 
of  the  Eternal,  at  whatever  season,  in  whatever  form, 
and  on  v\  hatever  occasion  it  is  heard  !   How  awful  then 
to  a  bad  man,  harboring  an  ill  design,  shutting  wilfully 
his  own  eyes,   and  yet  flattering  himself,  and  saying. 
Doth  God  see,  and  is  there  know  iedge  with  the  Most 
High  ?  That  he  considered  the  very  question  as  omin- 
ous, and  fatal  to  the  cause  of  his  avarice  anrl  vain- 
glory, is  evident  from  the  circumstantiality  of  his  an- 
swer.    It  discovers  a  soul   tremblingly  alive  to  the 
voice  of  interest :   it  is  minute  and  particular,  as  if,  by 
a  parade  of  words,  he  could  deceive  his  Maker  into  an 
approbation  of  his  purpose  and  desire.      What   then 
must  have  been  his  chagrin  and  disappointment,  w  heu 


440  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  LECT.  XIY. 

a  prohibition,  so  peremptory  and  positive,  in  a  moment 
blasted  all  his  prospects  of  gain  and  preferment ! 

"  And  God  said  unto  Balaam,  Thou  shult  not  go 
with  them,  thou  shalt  not  curse  the  people,  for  they 
are  blessed,"  Verse  12.  The  application  hid  two  ob- 
jects in  view,  permission  to  go  into  the  land  of  Moab, 
and  liberty  to  curse  the  children  of  Israel,  and  both 
meet  with  a  flat  denial.  He  must  not  accompany  the 
ambassadors  to  him  Avho  sent  them  ;  neither  must  he, 
either  at  home  or  abroad,  in  this  place  or  in  that,  pre- 
sume to  curse,  or  in  any  shape  whatever  to  molest  that 
people.  And,  as  if  the  sternness  of  interdiction  had 
not  been  su.'Iicient,  a  reason  is  assigned,  "  for  they  are 
blessed."  The  commandments  of  God,  in  general, 
are  so  clear,  that  it  is  impossible  to  misunderstand 
them  ;  it  is  not  ignorance,  but  presumption,  that  ruins 
mankind. 

Balaam,  however  reluctant,  must  next  morning  de- 
liver an  account  of  the  night's  success  ;  and  we  find 
lie  does  it  in  a  very  partial  and  imperfect  manner. 
When  he  reported  the  message  of  Balak  to  God,  hav- 
ing to  do  with  the  great  Searcher  of  hearts,  with  whom 
disguise  avails  nothing,  he  is  accurate  and  distinct ; 
but  in  carrying  back  the  answer  of  God,  having  to  do 
with  men,  who  knew  no  more  than  he  had  a  mind  to 
communicate  to  them,  he  delivers  it  in  terms  calculat- 
ed only  to  stimulate  the  eagerness  of  the  king  of  Moab, 
b'V  encouraging  a  hope  that  something  might  be  ex- 
torted, by  dint  of  importunity  and  perseverance;  or, 
tiiat  perhaps  lie  might  be  allowed  to  do  that  at  a  dis- 
tance, which  he  might  not  do  by  a  ne^irer  approach. 
The  command  was  clear  and  full,  "  Thou  shalt  not  go 
with  them  ;"  but  in  the  mouth  of  Balaam  it  is  mutilat- 
ed and  perverted :  "  the  Lord  refuseth  to  give  me  leave 
to  go  with  you,"  Verse  13.  This  satisfies  Balak  at 
once,  that  the  prophet's  good  will  was  with  him  ;  that 
it  was  not  from  v\ant  of  inclination  that  the  messengers 
icturned  vvitli.jut  him  ;  and,  he  justly  concludes,  that 


XECT.  XIV.  History  of  Balaam.  441 

ulth  such  a  proportion  of  the  men  on  his  side,  it  would 
not  i.e'  difficult  to  make  the  rest  to  follow. 

The  father  of  lies  himself  will  speak  truth,  when  it 
makes  for  his  i)urpose  ;  and  Satan  will  quote  scrip- 
ture, if  he  can  but  deceive  by  it ;  as  in  his  temptation 
of  our  Saviour  in  the  wilderness.  But  then  there  is 
always  some  material  circumstance  disguised,  pervert- 
ed or  suppressed  :  and  thereby  a  different  meaning  is 
conveyed  from  w  hat  was  intended.  The  word  of  God, 
then,  is  handled  deceitfully,  not  only  when  it  is  wrest- 
ed, and  made  to  speak  a  language  not  its  own,  but 
when  any  part  of  the  truth  is  purposely,  artfully  and 
wilfully  concealed  ;  and  he  "  who  shuns  to  declare  the 
whole  counsel  of  God,"  is  equally  criminal  with  him 
who  presumes  to  deliver,  as  the  word  of  God,  -what 
wants  the  stamp  of  his  authority.  Balaam  simply  re- 
lates, that  he  is  not  permitted  to  go  ;  not  a  syllable  of 
the  prohibition  to  curse  Israel,  nor  of  the  reason  assign- 
ed for  that  prohibition. 

As  the  message  lost  much  by  the  way  between  God 
and  the  princes  of  Moab,  from  Balaam's  manner  of 
rehearsing  it ;  so  it  loses  still  more  between  Balaam 
and  their  master,  from  their  mutilated  and  partial  re- 
port :  so  that  b^  the  time  it  reaches  Balak,  an  entirely 
different  turn  and  meaning  is  given  to  it.  The  words 
of  the  oracle  are,  ''  Thou  shalt  not  go  with  them  ; 
thou  shalt  not  curse  the  people,  for  they  are  blessed," 
Verse  12,  rehearsed  by  Balaam,  "the  Lord  rcfuseth 
to  give  me  leave  to  go  with  you,"  Verse  13,  reported 
by  the  ambassadors,  "Balaam  refuscth  to  come  with 
tjs,"  Verse  14-  Thus,  by  the  alteration  of  a  few  cir- 
cumstances, even  without  a  direct  violation  of  truth, 
by  passing  through  a  very  few  hands,  a  plain  proposi- 
tion is  made  to  contradict  itself:  and  if  we  add  to  the 
easiness  of  varying  facts,  by  varying  phrases,  and 
modes  of  expression ;  the  difference  still  more  easily 
made,  by  the  infinite  diversity  of  tones,  looks  and 
}»;e3ture,  we  shall  not  be  surprised  to  find,  what  fre- 

VOL.    11.  3  I. 


442  HISTORY   OF  BALAAM.,  LECT.  XIV. 

quently  happens,  a  man  made  to  say  diametrically  the 
reverse  of  what  he  did  say,  and  what  he  intended. 

Balak  havinf^  received  this  answer  as  the  prophet's, 
with  great  color  of  reason,  considers  it  as  a  mere  arti- 
ficc,  employed  with  a  view  to  raise  his  price  and  im- 
portance ;  and  he  hopes  to  conquer  Balaam's  reluctance, 
by  assiduity,  perseverance,  presents  and  flattery  :  for 
both  good  and  bad  men  judge  of  others  by  themselves : 
and  apprized,  it  would  appear,  of  Balaam's  weak  side, 
ambiiion  and  avarice,  he  dispatches  a  second  embassy, 
consisting  of  a  greater  number  of  persons,  and  of  still 
hifher  rank,  with  this  weighty  and  importunate  ad- 
dress :  "  'i'hus  saith  Balak,  the  son  of  Zippor,  Let 
nothing,  I  pray  thee,  hinder  thee  from  coming  unto 
me :  for  I  will  promote  thee  unto  very  great  honor, 
and  I  will  do  whatsoever  thou  sayest  unto  me  :  come 
therefore,  I  pray  thee,  curse  me  this  people,"  Verse 
16,  17.  How  flattering  all  this  to  a  worldly,  selfish 
mind  !  Balak  puts  a  chart  blanche  into  his  hands ; 
leaves  him  to  name  his  own  terms.  All  the  honor 
which  a  king  could  bestow,  all  the  wealth  of  Moabis 
befoie  him  ;  the  very  things  which  his  soul  lusted  af- 
ter. Blessed  Jesus,  thou  chief  of  the  prophets,  even 
the  prince  of  this  \^•orkl,  the  chief  of  tempters,  when 
he  came,  found  nothing  in  thcc  !  found  no  weak  side, 
no  vulnerable  part.  The  kingdoms  of  this  world,  and 
the  glory  of  them,  dazzled  not  thine  eyes  :  to  the  loud- 
est calls  of  nature  thou  lurnedst  a  deaf  ear.  The  ap-- 
plause  of  men  thou  didst  despise  ;  thou  soughtest  not 
thine  ou  n  glory,  but  the  glory  of  Him  that  sent  thee: 
thy  "  meat  and  drink  was  to  do  the  will  of  Him  that 
sent  thee." 

Balaam  had  now  been  at  the  summit  of  his  wishes, 
but  for  a  stern,  pointed  command  of  God  ;  w  hich,  like 
a  drawn  sword,  hung  by  a  single  hair  over  his  head. 
Shocking  dilemma  !  he  is  goaded  on  by  desires  as  im^ 
petuous  as  ever  took  possession  of  a  proud  and  covet- 
ous mind  ;  he  is  bridled  in  by  a  prohibition,    as  dcci- 


LECT.   XIV.  JTISTORY   OF    BALAAM.  445 

sive  as  \\ords  could  make  it.  For  a  moment  we  arc  in 
hope  tliat  the  i^ood  principle  has  got  the  ascendant,  that 
the  fear,  if  not  the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  his 
heart.  Who  could  speak  better?  '*  Jf  Balak  would 
give  me  his  house  full  of  silver  and  gold,  I  cannot  go 
■beyond  the  word  of  the  Lord  my  God,  to  do  less  or 
more,"  Verse  18.  It  is  the  very  sentiment  of  chaste 
and  virtuous  Joseph,  when  solicited  by  temptation  of 
a  different  sort.  But  here  is  the  differeiice  :.,.. Joseph 
fled  from  temptation,  and  overcame  :  Balaam  tampered 
with  it,  and  fell.  Even  the  worst  of  men  feel  them- 
selves under  a  necessity,  for  their  interest's  sake,  to 
save  appearances  ;  and  somethin_«^  must  be  said,  at  least, 
to  still  the  clamors  of  conscience.  Unhappy  man!  steady, 
himself,  to  his  own  base  and  m  icked  purpose,  he  is 
weak  enough  to  entertiiin  the  hope,  that  the  great,  the 
unchangeable  Jehovah  may  depart  from  his.  Tims  de- 
ceiving himself,  it  is  no  wonder  to  see  him  attempting 
to  deceive  the  king  of  Moab's  messengers  into  the  ex- 
pectation of  a  response  more  favorable  to  their  united 
wishes.  Accordingly,  he  courteously  invites  them  to 
lodge  with  him  that  night  also;  if,  perad  venture,  there 
might  be  obtained  a  reversal  of  the  decree. 

And  now  the  sable  curtain  is  drawn,  and  Balaam  is 
left  alone,  and  no  eye  sees  him  but  the  all-seeing  eye 
of  God.  Without  waiting  to  be  consulted,  and  the 
prophet,  without  doubt,  was  both  afraid  and  ashamed 
to  venture  on  this  second  reiiCounter,  God  again  pre- 
vents him,  and  tacitly,  though  not  directly,  charges 
him  with  having  invited  this  second  application,  in  the 
face  of  a  positive  and  decided  answer.  Balaam  and 
Balak  are  both  men  of  this  world,  and  having  one  and 
the  same  spirit  to  govern  them,  they  readily  understand 
each  other.  B.ilaam  evidently  courts  a  second  ad- 
dress ;  and  Balak  is  not  slo'.v  to  pay  it.  Now,  this  is 
the  very  thing  which  gives  so  great  and  such  ju^t  of- 
fence to  a  holy  God — that  two  presumptuous,  selfish 
wretches  should  presume  to  imagine,  that  the  counsels 


444  KisToiiY  or  balaam.  lect.  xlv^ 

of  Heaven  could  be  shaken,  in  compliance  with  their 
humor  or  interest.     "  And  God  came  unto  Balaam  at 
night,  and  said  unto  him,  If  the  men  come  to  call 
thee,  rise  up,  and  go  with  them ;  but  yet  the  word 
which  I  shall  say  unto  thee,  that  shalt  thou  do,"  Verse 
20.     The  word  might  have  been  rendered,  "  Seeing 
the  men  have  come  to  call  thee.     Balaam,  you  have 
carried,  thus  far,  your  point.     A  more  honorable  em- 
bassy attends  you.     Your  desire  is  to  go  :   you  are  un- 
able to  withstand  the  allurements  of  riches  and  honor  : 
you  know  the  better  course,  but  will  pursue  the  worse. 
Well  then,  fulfil  thy  desire.     I  have  declared  my  vvill ; 
but  thou  preferest  thine  own.     I  have  said,  Go  not ; 
curse  not ;  but  the  demon  of  gain  Mammon,   says,  go 
and  curse.     Obey  him.     Go,    and   take  the   conse- 
quence."    This  is  clearly  the  language  of  the  permis- 
sion given  him  to  accompany  the  messengers.     And 
can  there  be  a  clearer  proof  of  the  divine  displeasure, 
than  when  God  yields  to  men,  and  gives  them  their 
own   way  ?    "^  My  people,"  says  God,  "  would  not 
hearken  to  my  voice,  and  Israel  would  none  of  me, 
so  I  gave  them  up  unto  their  own  heart's  lust,  and  they 
walked  in  their  own  counsels.     O  that  my  people  had 
hearkened  unto  me,  and  Israel  had  walked   in   my 
ways !   I  should  soon  have  subdued  their  enemies,  and 
turned   my   hand   against   their  adversaries,"  Psalm 
Ixxxii.  11...  14.     The  wickedness  of  the  old  world  at 
length  overcame  the  patience  of  God ;  and  he  said, 
*'  My  Spirit  shall   not  always   strive  with  man:"  and 
so  they  v/ere  left  to  eat  and  drink,  to  dance  and  to  play  ; 
but  then  the  waters  of  a  delusre  were  at  no  q-reat  dis- 
tance  :  and  when  God  says,  concerning  a  people,  or  an 
individual,    "  Ephraim   is  joined  to  idols,    let   him 
alone;"    short  of  hell,  it  is  the  worst  that  can  befal 
them. 

Balaam  flattered  himself  and  the  Moabites,  with 
hearing  more  from  God  ;  but,  as  the  punishment  of 
abusing  the  light  he  had,  he  hears  less  than  before  > 


LECT.  XIV.  >iisToay  or  Balaam.  ^145 

and  the  vision  is  obscured  to  the  mun  who  liad  wilfully 
shut  his  own  eyes.  He  was  formerly  forbidden  either 
to  go,  or  to  curse.  He  is  now,  at  his  perl!,  allowed  to 
go  :  but  should  he  be  so  rash  as  to  proceed  on  so  slen- 
der a  warrant,  ho  is,  at  his  peril,  warned  to  walk  by 
the  instructions  whioh  should  be  given  him.  How  easily 
men  believe,  how  ])romptly  they  obey,  when  tlic  doc- 
trine tallies  with  their  prejudices  ;  when  the  precept 
coincides  with  their  inclinations  or  their  interest.  Ba- 
laam is  weak,  I  ought  to  have  said,  wicked  enouc^h,  to 
imagine  his  way  perfectly  clear.  Having  carried,  as 
he  thought,  one  essential  point,  all  the  rest,  he  pre- 
sumes, will  follow  of  course.  Who  so  quick-sighted 
as  a  covetous  man  pursuing  his  gain?  And  yet,  who 
so  stupid  and  dull,  as  the  man  whose  eyes  the  god  of 
this  world  hath  blinded?  Balaam  is  up  betimes  in  the 
morning,  equipped  for  his  journey,  on  his  way  for  the 
land  of  Moab.  *'  For  the  children  of  this  world  arc 
in  their  generation  wiser  than  the  children  of  light," 
Luke  xvi.  8.  And  there,  for  the  present,  we  shall 
leave  him,  with  this  melancholy,  mortifying  reflection 
....that  a  corrupted  heart  has  infinitely  greater  power  to 
pervert  a  sound  understanding  and  a  well-infjrmed 
conscience,  than  an  intelligent  conscience  and  a  clear 
head  have  to  reform  and  purify  a  corrupted  heart.  If 
God  permit,  we  shall  continue  the  history  next  Lord's 
day.  May  grace  and  wisdom  be  granted  us  to 
make  a  proper  use  of  it ;  and  to  God's  holy  name  be 
praise.     Amen. 


.  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM. 


LECTURE  XV. 

Tliese  are  gone  astray,  following  the  way  of  Balaam^ 
the  son  of  Bosor,  ivho  loved  the  zvages  of  unrighte- 
ousness ;  but  ivas  rebuked  for  his  iniquity :  the 
dumb  ass,  speaking  with  mane's  voice ,  forbad  the 
madness  of  the  prophet...  .2  Pet.  ii.  15,  16. 

THE  ordinary  powers  of  nature,  if  we  consider 
them  attentively,  are  no  less  wonderful  in  them- 
selves, and  are  not  less  a  proof  of  the  power  and  wis- 
dom of  God,  than  those  extraordinary  gifts  which  have 
been  bestowed,  and  those  preternatural  powers  which 
have  been  exercised  at  particular  seasons,  and  for  spe^ 
cial  purposes  ;  and  whi-ch  have  excited  the  admiration 
and  astonishment  of  one  part  of  mankind,  and  the  in- 
credulity of  anotl>er.  That  a  company  of  illiterate 
men  should  suddenly,  and  without  instruction  or  study, 
be  endowed  with  the  gift  of  readily  speaking  various 
languages,  justly  raises  our  wonder,  and  conveys  to 
our  minds  a  very  lofty  idea  of  that  divine  intelligence 
which  can  communicate  such  power  unto  men  :  but 
wc  overlook  the  wonder  equally  great,  because  it  is 
continually  occurring,  of  the  common  gift  of  speech, 
and  thiC  conveyance  of  thought  by  it ;  and  the  acqui- 
sition of  language  by  means  of  letters  and  memory. 
That  a  dumb  ass  should  speak  with  man's  voice,  and 
the  dull  ass  re:;s  r.i,  fills  us  with  surprise,  btc;iu=e  l\w 


LECr.   XV.  inSTOIfY   or    UALAAJf.  •447 

instance  is  bingular  and  unparallt'led  ;  but  the  G^radiml 
increase  of  the  luir.>an  body,  the  imperceptible  ixj>an- 
sion  of  the  po\\crs(.f  the  human  mind,  pass  lor  a  thinji; 
of  course  ;  though  the  hand  of  God  be  conspicuous 
in  liie  one  case  as  in  the  other.  Nothing  is  i.icredibkr 
to  them  who  k:."\v  liie  scriptures,  an<:i  the  power  of 
God:  nothing  is  incredible  to  him  wlu)  attends,  \Aitl» 
any  degree  of  application,,  to  the  operations  of  his  o\\  u 
mind  ;  and  to  u  hat,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  human 
affairs,  is  every  hour  pressing  upon  his  observation . 
in  a  crowded  assembly,  without  the  utterance  of  i\ 
single  sound,  by  one  glance  of  the  eye,  the  inmosi, 
thoughts,  the  most  secret  emotions,  shall,  quick  a.-i 
]ie:htnin?-,  be  conveved  from  soul  to  soul  :  and  the 
Stranger  be  unable  to  intermeddle  with,  to  partake  of, 
the  sorrow  or  the  joy.  Let  the  veil  of  night  be  spread 
ever  so  thick,  and  the  use  of  sight  suspended,  as  if 
the  eye-ball  were  extinguished,  the  vibration  of  a  little 
film  of  ilesh  sliall  dissipate  the  gloom,  and  convey  tiie 
accents  of  aRection  or  ot'  woe  to  the  ear  and  the  lieart 
of  sympathy.  Place  the  diameter  of  the  glebe  betv\een 
my  friend  and  me,  by  an  art  subtle  as  the  magic  spell, 
what  I  know  and  feel  in  the  frozen  regions  of  the  noi  th, 
shall  fiee  on  the  su  ift  wings  of  the  wiwd,  and  touch  hi^ 
sonl  under  the  more  clement  sky  of  die  opposite  hemis- 
phere. Knowing  from  experience  all  this  to  be  true,, 
history  can  record  no  fact,  promise  suspend  before  my 
eyes  no  future  event  too  wonderful  for  me  to  believe. 
The  omniscience,  omnipotence,  and  infinite  goodness 
of  God  once  admitted,  every  difficulty  vanishes.  Is 
there  any  thing  too  hard  for  the  Lord  to  perform  ?  No  r 
Then  Sarah  conceives  a  son  at  ninety  }eiirs  o'd  ;  tin*: 
dumb  ass  reproves  the  madness  of  his  master  ;  unlet- 
tered fishermen  speak  \\  ith  tongues ;  the  dead  shall 
rise  ;  all  th.esc  things  shall  be  dissolved,  and  "  new 
heavens,  and  a  new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteous 
ness,"  shall  be  expanded,  to  endure  fore\er  and 
ever. 


448  HISTOKY  OF   BALAAM.  LECT.  xr. 

Having  premiyed  tlie:5e  things,  not  altogether  for- 
eign, we  trust,  to  our  subject,  we  proceed  to  the  far- 
ther prosecution  of  a  historyj  as  singular  and  as  in- 
structive, perhaps,  as  any  in  scripture. 

Ba!a;im  having  obtained  what  he  was  willing  to  be- 
lieve the  con:ieiit  of  God  to  his  journey  into  the  land 
of  Moab,  for  we  easily  believe  what  we  wish,  loses 
not  a  moment  in  making  preparation  for  it.  He  is 
mounted,  and  on  his  journey  by  the  first  dawning  of 
the  day,  as  if  afraid  of  prevention,  by  a  revocation  of 
the  permission  ;  ill  at  ease  in  his  mind,  but  smothering 
conviction,  in  the  exultation  of  having  princes  in  his 
train,  and  in  the  prospect  of  all  the  riches  and  honor 
which  confederated  kings  had  to  bestow.  Scripture 
gives  us  the  idea  of  a  holy  violence  offered  unto  God, 
with  which  he  is  well  pleased,  and  to  which  he  graci* 
ously  submits  to  yield  ;  as  when  it  is  said,  "  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  suflercth  violence,  and  the  violent  take 
it  by  force."  Hence  the  commandment,  "  to  strive  to 
enter  in  at  the  strait  gate,"  to  wrestle  and  make  sup- 
plication, "to  pray  always,  and  not  to  faint."  But 
there  is  also  suggested  the  idea  of  an  impious,  a  pre- 
sumptuous, and  a  fatal  strife  and  contention  with  our 
?ilaker,  in  which,  woe  be  to  the  man  that  prevails. 
Such  was  the  violence  which  worldly-minded  Balaam 
offered :  and  how  could  he  think  to  prosper  ?  God, 
justly  displeased  at  his  perseverance  in  a  cause  which 
he  knew  to  be  disapproved  of  Heaven,  leaves  him  not 
lon^  in  uncertainty  respecting  his  will. 

The  princes  of  Moab,  it  would  appear,  had  now 
kit  him,  and  were  proceeding  with  a  quicker  pace  to 
apprise  their  master  of  the  prophet's  approach  ;  and 
Balaam  remains  attended  by  only  two  of  his  own 
servants,  when  the  angc!  of  the  Lord  places  himself 
in  the  way  for  an  adversary  against  him.  We  shall 
find,  in  the  sequel,  the  person  styled  the  angel  of  the 
Lord,  as  in  other  places,  so  here,  assuming  the  cha- 
racter, and  exercising  the  prerogative  of  Deity  :  for 


i.KCr.   XV.  HISTORY  OF  BALAy\M.  449 

he  it  is  that  afterwards  says,  "  The  word  tliat  /shall 
spc:>k  unto  thee,  that  thou  shalt  speak."  We  are  to 
understand,  therefore,  by  this  desifjjnation,  the  mit^hty, 
•the  uncreated  Angel,  by  whom  God  made  the  worlds, 
the  eternal  Word,  which  was  in  the  be_2;inning,  which 
was  with  God,  and  which  was  God,  and  which,  in  the 
fulness  of  time,  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among 
men  :  "  And  they  beheld  his  glory,  the  glory  as  of 
the  only  begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace  and  truth." 
John  i.  14.  But  never,  till  now,  did  he  appear  in  the  cha- 
racter of  an  adversary.  We  find  him,  on  other  occa- 
sions, appearing  to  direct  the  wandering,  to  protect 
the  weak,  and  to  succor  the  distressed  ;  as  in  the  case 
of  Hagar,  Lot  and  Jacob  :  but  the  face  of  the  Lord 
is  set  against  them  that  do  evil.  And  now  behold  him 
in  the  way  to  check  the  progress  of  pride,  violence 
and  covetousness.  The  great  enemy,  foe  to  God  and 
man,  is  termed,  b}^  way  of  distinction,  the  adversary: 
Jout  lo  I  that  awful  character  is  assumed  by  a  ver}-  dif- 
ferent being.. ..by  one,  infinitely  greater  and  mightier 
than  him;  w-hose  wrath  is  infinitely  more  terrible; 
who  has  power  to  save  and  to  destroy  ;  and,  if  he  takes 
upon  him  that  hrni,  it  is  stiil  in  consistency  with  his 
gracious  characters  of  good  and  merciful :  it  is  to  hum- 
ble the  proud,  to  prevent  and  counteract  the  causeless 
curse  ;  to  disappoint  malice,  and  make  the  purposes 
of  revenge  recoil  upon  itself:  it  is  to  support  the 
friendless,  to  guard  tlie  innocent,  and  to  relieve  the 
■miserable. 

This  formidable  app.irition  was  observed  neither  by 
the  proph.et  nor  his  servants.  Neither  the  natural  vision 
of  the  latter,  nor  the  extraordinary  and  supernatural 
sagacity  of  the  former,  discerned  any  thing,  save 
empty  space,  where  the  dullest  of  brute  animals  de- 
scritd  the  presence  of  Him,  who  makes  all  natiu-e 
tremble  at  his  nod  ;  who  "  giveth  under^^tanding  to 
the  prudent,  and  to  him  that  hath  no  might  increascth 
strength."     Is    not  this  a  striking  representation  of 

VOL.  II.  3  m 


450  HISTORY  OF   SALAAJr.  tECT.  XV,' 

what  dail}'^  comes  to  pass  in  the  course  of  providence  f 
We  see  men  soaring  in  the  clouds,  with  their  eyes  and 
imagination,  while  with  their  feet  they  stumble  and 
fall  into  the  ditch  that  is  before  them  ;  possessing  every 
kind  of  sense,  except  common  sense  :  pretending-  to 
superior  refinement,  and  yet  stupid  and  gross,  in  the 
plainest  and  most  essential  things.  Thus  the  simpli- 
city of  the  gospel  was  "  to  the  Jews  a  stumbling-block, 
and  to  the  Greeks  foolishness  :"  and  on  this  very  ac- 
count, the  condescending  Saviour  of  mankind  is  re- 
presented as  rejoicing  in  spirit,  and  saying,  "  I  thank 
thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  because 
thou  hast  hid  these  things  from  the  wise  and  prudent, 
and  hast  revealed  them  unto  babes.  Even  so,  Father, 
for  so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight,"  Matth.  ix.  25,  26. 
Thus  God  destroy eth  the  "  wisdom  of  the  wise,  and 
biings  to  nothing  the  understanding  of  the  prudent," 
1  Cor.  i.  19. 

What  an  object  of  terror  is  here  represented  as  ob- 
structing the  passage  !  An  angel  !  The  prince  of  an- 
gels, armed  with  a  sword,  and  that  sword  drawn  in  his 
hand  !  Whiit  was  the  strength  of  Egypt,  in  that  dread- 
ful night,  when  one  of  his  flaming  messengers  walked 
through  the  midst  of  it,  and  made  all  its  first-born  to 
bleed  to  death  under  his  stroke  ?  How  easy  had  it  been 
for  that  arm,  with  one  stroke  of  that  sword,  to  have 
'  ut  an  end  to  the  life  and  madness  of  the  prophet  I 
|>ut  he  chose  to  employ  a  meaner  instrument,  and 
thereby  to  vindicate  to  himself  higher  praise. 

There  is  a  striking  progress  described  in  the  mode 
of  admonition  and  reproof,  administered  to  the  prophet 
by  the  successive  actions  of  the  dumb  creature.  First, 
'*  he  turned  aside  out  of  the  way  and  went  into  the 
field  ;"  a  plain  intimation  to  his  accustomed  rider,  that 
something  extraordinary  obstructed  his  path.  Thus, 
in  many  passages  of  scripture,  the  common  instincts 
of  the  dullest  animals,  arc  employed  to  expose  the 
greater  thoughtlessness  and  folly  of  rational   beings. 


•£,ECT.   XV.  HISTORY   OF    15.VXAAM.  451 

"  Ask,  now,  the  beasts,"  says  Job,  **  and  ihey 
shall  teach  thee ;  and  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and  they 
shall  tell  thee  :  or  speak  to  the  earth,  and  it  shall  teach 
thee ;  and  tiie  fishes  of  the  sea  shall  declare  unto  thee. 
\Vho  knowelh  not  in  all  these,  that  the  hand  of  the 
Lord  hath  wrought  this,"  Job  xii.  7. ..9.  *'  Hear, 
O  heavens;"  says  God  by  Isaiah,  "and  give 
ear,  O  earth  :  for  the  L'-rd  hath  spoken  :  I  have  nou- 
rished and  brought  up  children,  and  they  have  rebelled 
afj^ainst  me.  The  ox  knowelh  his  owner,  and  the  ass 
his  master's  crib  :  but  Israel  doth  not  know,  my  peo- 
ple doth  not  consider,"  Isai.  i.  2,  3.  "  Yea,  the  stork 
in  the  heaven,"  saithGod  by  another  prophet,  "  know- 
eth  her  appointed  times  :  and  the  turile,  and  the  crane, 
and  the  swallow  observe  the  time  of  their  comins^  ;  but 
my  people  know  not  the  judgment  of  the  Lord," 
Jer.  viii.  7.  Thus,  in  the  passarje  before  us,  a  more 
indirect  reproof  was  given  to  the  eagerness  and  speed 
of  Balaam,  pricked  on  by  the  spur  of  covctousness 
and  ambition,  by  the  action  of  the  ass,  in  deviating 
from  the  right  path  ;  and  had  not  the  eyes  of  his  un- 
derstanding been  blinded  by  the  wages  of  unrighte- 
ousness, this,  without  the  vision  of  an  angel,  might 
have  taught  him  that  the  way  in  which  he  went  was 
perverse  before  God.  But  following  only  the  blind 
impulse  of  a  carnal  mind,  he  wreaks,  in  reiterated  blows 
upon  the  unoffending  brute,  tlie  resentment  which 
ought  to  have  been  levelled  against  his  own  rashness 
and  presumption.  Who  was  here  most  worthy  of 
stripes  ?  Let  the  adage  of  the  wise  man  determine. 
**  A  whip  for  the  horse,  a  bridle  for  the  ass,  and  a  rod 
for  the  fool's  back." 

Behold  the  patience  and  long-suffering  of  God-  The 
ass,  by  dint  of  blows,  is  forced  back  again  into  the 
road,  and  the  angel  himself  gives  place  and  retires. 
Folly  and  obstinacy  seem  to  have  carried  off  the  victory ; 
but  alas,  how  short  is  the  tiiumph  of  impiety  !  If  om- 
iiipoience  yield,  it  is  only  to  meet  the  sinner  on  ground 


452  KisTOitY  or  balaam.  lect.  xt.. 

more  difficult  and  dangerous.  The  heavenly  messen.2;er 
now  takes  his  stand  in  a  place  where  there  was  no  wiw  to 
escape,  "  a  wall  on  this  side,  and  a  wall  on  that,"  and 
a  flaming  sword,  wielded  by  the  arm  of  the  great  Arch- 
angel, in  front,  to  oppose.  There  is  no  way  of  safety 
but  in  turning  back  and  fleeing  for  life,  and  yet  he  will 
madly  push  on  to  his  own  destruction.  When  men 
are  once  engaged  in  a  way  that  is  not  good,  difliculty 
only  stimulates  their  ardor  ;  they  rush  on  through  dan- 
ger to  danger,  till  they  involve  themselves  in  inevitable 
destruction  ;  according  to  the  fearful  progress  describ- 
ed by  the  prophet...."  Fear,  and  the  pit,  and  the  snare 
shalfbe  upon  thee,  O  inhabitant  of  Moab,  saith  the 
Lord.  He  that  fleeth  from  the  fear  shall  fall  into  the 
pit,  and  he  that  getteth  up  out  of  the  pit,  shall  be  taken 
in  the  snare  :  for  Lwill  b:  ing  ujjon  it,  even  uj^on  Mi;ab, 
the  year  of  their  visitation,  saith  the  Lord.  They  that 
fled  stood  under  the  shadow  of  Heshbon,  because  of 
the  force  :  but  a  fire  shall  come  forth  out  of  Heshbon, 
and  a  flame  from  the  midst  of  Sion,  and  shall  devour 
the  corner  of  Moab,  and  the  crown  of  the  head  of  the 
tumultuous  ones,"  Jer.  xlviii.  43. ..45. 

The  reproof  now  becomes  more  distinct  and  direct. 
The  wretched  animal,  urged  on  by  his  furious  rider, 
hemmed  in  with  a  wall  on  either  side,  and  opposed  in 
front  as  with  a  wall  of  fire,  in  making  a  desperate  ef- 
fort to  pass  by  and  advance,  thrusts  herself  close  to 
the  wall,  and  crushes  the  p.rophet's  foot.  'J'hus  slow, 
thus  reluctant,  is  a  mercihd  God  to  p.ioceed  to  judg- 
•ment.  He  first  Marns and  threatens  ;  then  touciies  the 
extremities,  if  peradventure  the  sini.er  ^^  ill  take  warn- 
ing, and  turn  back  ;  and  not  till  all  means  have  been 
tried  and  found  ineffectual,  he  is  provoked  to  strike 
the  deadly  blow  that  reaches  the  heart. 

Mark  on  the  other  hand,  by  what  dreadful  degiees 
sinners  harden  t'nemselves  against  God,  till  they  be- 
come lost  to  feeling.  The  commission  of  one  sin  ;is 
naturally  leads  to  another,  as  every  step  do\Nn  a  steep 


LECT   Xr.  IIISTOKY    OV    BALAAM.  4j3 

place  accelerates  the  speed  of  that  wiiicli  is  to  follow  ; 
and  yet  transgressors  vainly  iin:iii,ine  it  is  in  their  power 
to  stop  when  they  j>leasc,  or  to  turn  ai:-iin>,t  the  bias. 
One  of  the  most  feuruil  symptoms  (;f  a  rcj>r(jbate 
mind,  is,  when  the  very  meai\s  of  awakenini^,  con- 
vincin;^;  and  C(Hiveiting,  serve  as  opiates  to  the  con- 
science, and  increase  that  inseilsibility  which  ihev 
were  meant  to  cure.  If  the  constitution  of  the  jxitient 
be  so  vitiated  as  to  convert  medii-.ine  into  poison,  dis- 
solution cannot  be  at  a  s^reat  distance.  Aflliction,  that 
wholesome,  t]ion|2;h  unpalatable  potion,  never  leaves 
the  mind  exactly  where  it  found  it.  A  cure  is  either 
ben-un  by  it,  or  the  distemper  is  confirmed.  The  his- 
tory of  Balaam  is  the  illustration  of  tliis  position.  The 
pain  of  his  foot  has  only  served  to  wliet  the  asperitv  of 
his  disposition  ;  and  the  more  he  is  opposed,  the  more 
earnest  he  is  to  get  forwards.  O  that  the  children  of 
light  were  thus  i:)erseverant  in  a  good  cause,  and  not 
weary  of  well-doing. 

It  is  astonishing  that  superstition,  if  not  the  fear  of 
God,  did  not  now  turn  Inin  back.  Surely  never  jour- 
ney had  a  more  ominous,  inauspicious  beginning  :  but 
the  passions  by  which  he  v.'as  actuated,  are  among  tlie 
last  to  be  discouraged  ;  on  he  drives,  and  the  angel,  in 
patience  mixt  with  displeasure,  continues  to  retreat, 
till  at  length  the  path  bece^mes  so  narrow,  that  it  was 
impossible  to  turn  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left,  when 
the  patient  brute,  wearied  and  wasted  with  stri|;es,  and 
scared  with  the  dreadful  vision  immediately  befure  her 
eyes,  at  last  sinks  to  the  eartli  under  her  burthen. 

This  was  the  third  stage  of  admonition  and  reproof. 
God  first  waves  the  flaming  sword,  but  cuts  not,  shakes 
the  rod,  but  smites  not.  That  being  disregarded,  he 
puts  forth  his  hand  and  smites  the  heel,  but  spares  the 
vitals.  He  then  proceeds  to  block  up  the  way,  that  tiie 
sinner  cannot  pass  ;  but  is  constiained  to  fall  down  be- 
fore him.  Humanity  is  shocked  as  we  proceed.  "  The 
merciful   man  is  merciful  to  his  beast,    but  the  tender 


454  MiSTOKY   OP  BALAAM.  LECT  XV. 

mercies  of  the  wicked  are  cruel."  Beliold  an  old, 
simple,  iincomplaiiiing  drud£!;e  expirini^  under  the  an- 
j^ry  blows  of  her  unkind  master.  The  very  stones  of 
the  field  are  ready  to  cry  out,  and  to  upbraid  the  hard- 
hearted, ungrateful  wretch  with  his  cruelty,  "Ba- 
laam's anger  was  kindled,  and  he  smote  her  with  a 
staff."  In  the  history  of  the  miracle  which  follows,  a 
multitude  of  reflections  crowd  upon  us.  In  the  order 
and  frame  of  nature,  e\ery  creature  of  God  has  a  spe- 
cial  use  and  end;  neither  is  there  any  schism,  deficiency 
or  redundancy,  permitted  in  the  great  body  of  the  uni- 
verse. Every  thing  is  in  its  place  ;  every  thing  is  ful- 
iilling  the  purpose  of  its  Creator  ;  and  therefore  nothing 
ought  to  be  mean  or  contemptible  in  our  eyes.  The 
l^reat  Lord  of  all  exercises  a  tender  concern  about  the 
lowest  of  the  brute  creation,  provides  for  them,  and  re- 
sents the  cruelty  and  injustice  which  are  offered  them. 
"  He  feeds  the  ravens,"  *'  the  young  lions  ask  their 
meat  from  God,"  "  he  careth  for  oxen,"  "  a  sparrow 
falleth  not  to  the  ground  without  our  heavenly  Father." 
And  lo,  the  dull  ass  findeth  compassion  and  an  avfe'uger, 
%vhen  under  oppression,  from  him  whom  angels  wor- 
ship. Who  so  lofty  as  to  be  beyond  his  reiich,  as  to 
■defy  his  power  ?  What  so  little  as  to  be  beneath  his  no- 
tice, or  shut  out  from  his  pity?  There  is  of  conse- 
quence a  return  of  attention  and  tenderness  due  from 
the  human  race  to  every  order  of  creatures  below  them- 
selves, and  whose  services,  whatever  their  faculties 
may  be.  Providence  permits  them  to  employ  either  for 
pleasure  or  for  use.  The  power  and  wisdom  which 
stationed  every  creature  in  its  proper  place,  and  pre- 
serves it  theie,  can  at  pleasure  elevate  it  to  a  higher, 
or  depress  it  to  a  lower  sphere ;  can  confer  upon  it  a 
force  ur>known  before,  or  deprive  it  of  w  hat  it  formerly 
possessed  ;  can  break  the  strength  of  Egypt,  bx  an 
army  of  frogs  or  flies,  or  preserve  Daniel  unhurt  in 
the  midi^t  of  the  lions  ;  can  catch  the  serpent  in  his 
o.wn  craftiness,  and  teach  the  dull  ass  speech. and  reason. 


iter.  XV.  fdSlOKV   OF    BAJIAAM.  4,55- 

The  cunning  of"  Satan,  and  the  undcrstandinp^  oT 
m:in,  look  out  for  likely,  promising  and  adc(Hiatc  in- 
sti mncnts  to  cany  on  their  designs.  The  wisdom  o! 
God  chooses  to  execute  his  by  such  as  are  apparently 
weak,  uniMOinising  and  inadequate.  To  seduce  our 
first  parents,  the  devil  employed  the  agency  of  thaC 
creature  w  hich  was  the  most  sagacious  of  all  the  beasts 
of  tl>e  field.  I'he  most  stupid,  in  the  hand  of  the  AI- 
niighty,  was  sufilcicnt  to  confound,  and  to  convict, 
and  to  condemn,  tiie  proudest  and  mtjst  highly  gifted 
of  his  race.  And  the  gospel  of  Christ  becometh  ef- 
fectual unto  salvation,  not  through  the  wisdom  of 
words,  but  b\' demonstration  of  the  Spirit  ;  for  '•  God 
hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world  to  C(jiifound 
the  wise  ;  and  God  hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of 
the  world  to  confound  the  things  which  are  mighty  ; 
and  base  things  of  the  w^jrld,  and  things  which  are 
despised,  hath  God  chosen,  yea,  and  things  which 
are  not,  to  bring  to  nought  things  that  are  :  that  no 
flesh  should  glory  in  his  presence."   1  Cor.  i.  27. ..'2V. 

Finally,  for  we  must  make  an  end  of  our  reflections 
on  the  subject..,.  What  creature  so  brutish,  as  a  rational 
bcino:  under  the  dominion  of  his  lusts  !  The  noveltv 
of  an  ass  speaking,  reasoning,  remonstrating,  seems  to 
have  excited  no  astonishment  in  the  furious  prophet  : 
he  is  not  awakened  to  one  sentiment  of  compassion, 
nor  of  godly  fear,  by  a  phenomenon  so  singuhsr.  'i'lic 
only  regret  he  feels,  is  the  want  of  a  deadly  instrument 
to  prosecute  his  resentment  to  the  full.  Men  most 
vainly,  and  in  the  face  of  experience,  imv'gine,  thaf; 
such  and  such  means  of  conviction  would  certainly 
work  their  effect.  "Nay,  but  if  one  went  from  the 
dead  they  will  repent ;"  but  the  truth  is  too  well  con- 
firmed by  every  day's  experience,  to  be  called  in  ques- 
tion, that  "  if  they  hear  not  Moses  and  the  prophets, 
neither  will  they  be  persuaded  though  one  rose  from 
the  dead,"  Luke  xvi.  31.  A  miracle  greater  than 
even  opening  the  ass'  mouth  must  be  performed,  be- 


456  HISTORY   OF   BALAAM.  LECT.  XV. 

* 

fore  Balaam  be  persuaded.  A  heart  wedded  to  en)-!, 
is  not  to  be  reasoned  out  of  its  fovorite  pursuit;  ond 
unbelief,  do  what  you  will,  always  finds  a  stron:;^--hoid 
whereto  it  can  resort,  and  which  it  easily  renders  ini- 
pregnal^ie.  "  Shew  us  a  sign  from  heaven,  and  we 
will  believe."  Well,  the  very  petidance  of  incred]- 
lity  is  humored,  the  sign  is  exhibited,  Satan  is  cast 
out.  Surely  they  will  now  believe.  No  such  thing. 
"  This  man  casteth  out  devils  by  Beelzebub  the  prince 
of  the  devils."  Tiie  eyes  of  Balaam  are  blinder, 
his  heart  more  hard  than  the  tongue  of  the  ass  is  mute. 

At  length,  God  vouchsafes  to  efit-ct  that  by  a  second 
miracle,  v.'hich  had  been  obvious  to  a  render  conscience, 
much  Tiore  to  a  prophetic  eye,  without  any  miracle  at 
al!  ;  and  the  angel  stands  confest  to  the  sight  of  the 
soothsayer,  and  clothed  in  all  his  terror.  And  now 
violence,  ambition  and  covetousness  stand  for  a  while 
suspended,  swallow^ed  up  of  fear  at  this  alarming  sight. 
His  eyes  are  no  sooner  opened  to  see  with  whom  he 
had  to  contend,  than  he  shuts  them  again  in  conster- 
nation and  astonishment ;  "  he  bowed  his  head  and 
fell  fiat  on  his  face."  What  a  miserable  figure  a  haughty 
man  makes  when  caught  in  the  siiare  !  How  vain  the 
expectation  of  fleeing  from  God,  or  of  opposing  him 
with  success  !  How  dreadful  it  is  to  meet  as  an  adver- 
sary, Him  wiiose  counsels  we  have  sligiitcd  as  a  friend! 
Balaam  has  now  the  unspeakable  mortification  of  dis- 
covering that  he  owed  the  preservation  of  his  life  to 
the  slender  sagacity  and  discernment  of  the  poor  brute 
whom  he  had  ticated  so  unniercifully  :  and  he  is  again 
assured,  without  reserve  or  disguise,  that  the  design  of 
this  journey  was  highly  odious  and  offensive  to  God. 
"  Behold,  I  went  out  to  withstand  thee,  because  thy 
^vav  is  perverse  before  me.  And  the  ass  saw  me,  and 
turned  from  me  these  three  times  :  unless  she  had  turn- 
ed from  ine,  surely  now  also  i  had  slain  thee,  and  sav- 
ed her  alive,"   Verse  32,  33. 

But  though   intimidated  ar.d  confounded,  his  heart 


LECT.   XV.  IflSTORY    OF    BALAAM.  -^157 

Still  cleaves  to  *'  the  wages  of  unrii^hlcousncss."  Dis- 
approbation could  not  be  expressed  in  clearer  and  stron- 
ger words,  than  had  along  been  employed,  "  thou  shalt 
not  go,  thou  shalt  not  curse,"  "  I  went  out  to  widi- 
stand  thee:  thy  way  is  perverse  before  me,"  and  yet 
he  has  the  assurance  to  make  it  a  matter  of  doubt  whe- 
ther God  were  displeased  with  him  or  not.  A  con- 
science not  quite  callous,  a  heart  not  totally  hardened 
like  his,  would  have  sought  instantly  to  retreat,  thank- 
ful that  his  presumption  had  not  already  cost  him  his 
life  ;  but  he  cannot  gi\e  up  the  hope  of  getting  for- 
ward. "  //  it  displease  thee,  I  will  get  me  back 
again,"  Verse  34,  "  //  it  displease  thee."  Could 
he  doubt  it  ?  What  kind  of  assurance  would  he  have 
had?  And  yet,  wonderful  to  be  told,  the  angel  con- 
tinues once  more  to  give  way  ;  and  Balaam  has  still 
the  hardiness  to  proceed  ;  and  the  issue  proves  the 
truth  of  the  wise  man's  assertion  :  "  He  that  being 
often  reproved  hardeneth  his  neck,  shall  suddenly  be 
destroyed,  and  that  without  remedy,"  Prov.  xxix.  1. 

The  history  now  hastens  on  to  the  meeting  of  Ba- 
laam and  Balak  ;  the  -one  eager  to  prevail  over  his  ene- 
xnies,  by  the  power  of  enchantment ;  the  other  to  pos- 
sess himself  of  the  riches  and  honors  of  Moab.  The 
one  lavs  aside  the  state  of  a  king,  and  advances  to  his 
utmost  border,  out  of  respect  to  his  expected  guest. 
The  other,  with  more  s])eed  than  became  a  prophet, 
hastens  to  partake  of  the  prince's  repast,  little  scrupu- 
lous whether  the  bill  of  fare  consisted  of  things  ofiered 
imto  idols  or  not.  Buthajipily  for  Israel,  God  their 
protector,  had  put  a  hook  in  his  nose  and  a  bridle  in 
his  jaws.  He  himself  feels  and  acknowledges  it, 
however  reluctantlv.  "  And  Balam  said  unto  Balak, 
Lo,  I  am  come  unto  thee  :  have  1  now  any  power  at 
all  to  say  any  thing  ?  The  word  that  God  putteth  in 
my  mouth,  that  shall  I  speak,"  Verse  38. 

The  prophecy  itself,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  pas- 
sages in  the  sacred  history,  though  uttered  by  profane 

\'  o  L  .   T 1 .  3  X 


458  IIISTOHV  OF   BALAAM.  LEGT-XV, 

lips ;  and  the  power  of  God  therein  exemplified,  in 
making  the  wrath  of  niiHi  to  praise  him,  will  furnish 
useful  matter  for  another  discourse.  Let  what  has»^ 
been  said,  be  improved  as  a  solemn  warning  to  ob- 
serve, regard  and  subniit  to  the  admonitions  of  God's 
A\  ord  and  providence.  Woe  be  to  that  man  who  sees 
no  arigel  standing  in  the  way  of  a  sinful  career,  till  the 
angel  of  death  stop  him  with  his  fatal  dart.  Let  the 
checks  of  conscience  be  listened  to.  Has  the  hand, 
or  the  foot,  been  bruised,  retreat  in  time.  There  is  a 
lion  in  the  way.  He  that  proves  too  strong  for  his 
Maker,  by  a  bold  ptracverance  in  an  evil  course,  is 
only  hastening  forward  his  own  destruction.  The 
same  person  is  the  kindest  friend,  and  the  most  for- 
midable adversary, 

God  can  iiud  an  instrument  to  punish,  in  the  mean- 
est and  most  contemptible  creature  ;  therefore  de;];ise 
none,  abuse  none.  Be  not  weary  in  well-doirg.  Take 
an  example  from  Balaam,  in  respect  of  perseverance  ; 
but  choose  an  honester  and  worthier  object  of  purrsuit. 
Honor  God  with  your  superior  reason  and  use  of 
speech.  Behold  an  ass  wise,  and  a  prophet  mad  : 
blush  at  thy  own  folly,  and  be  humble. 

Let  us  go,  as  has  been  already  suggested,  and  learn; 
V.  isdom  from  the  bjute  creation.  "  The  ox  knoweth 
his  owner,  and  the  ass  his  master's  crib  :"  be  instruct- 
ed to  acknowledge  the  hand  that  feeds  thee  :  learn  at- 
tachment to  thy  Protector,  learn  gratitude  to  thy  Bene- 
factor, repay  kindness  with  kindness.  Learn  industry 
from  the  bee.  "  Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard  ,'  con- 
sider her  ways,  and  be  wise  :  which  having  no  guide, 
overseer,  or  ruler,  provideth  her  meat  in  the  summer, 
and  gathereth  her  food  in  the  harvest.  How  long  wilt 
thou  sleep,  O  sluggard  ?  W^hen  wilt  thou  arise  out 
of  thy  sleep,"  Prov.  vi.  6. ..9.  "  The  hen  gathereth 
her  chickens  under  her  wings."  "  There  be  four 
things  which  are  little  upon  the  earth,  but  they  are  ex- 
ceeding wise.     The  ants  are  a  people  not  strong,   yet 


XECT.  XV.  JMSTORY   OF   BALAAM.  459 

they  prepare  their  meat  in  the  summer  ;  the  conies  are 
but  a  leeble  folk,,  yet  make  they  tlieir  houscii  in  the 
rocks  ;  the  locusts  have  no  king,  yet  go  they  forth  all 
of  tliem  by  bands  ;  the  spider  taketh  hold  ^v  ith  her 
hands,  and  is  in  kings*  palaces,"  Prov.  xxx.  24.. .28. 
May  God  open  our  eyes,  and  dispose  our  minds  to 
receive  instruction  from  every  thing  around  us ;  and 
preserve  us  from  opposing  his  will^  and  make  his 
vray  straight  before  our  face. 


HISTORY  OF  BALAAM. 


LECTURE  XVI. 

Who  can  count  the  dust  of  Jacob,  and  the  number  of 
the  Jourth  part  of  Israel  ?  Let  me  die  the  death  of 
the  righteous i  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his  ...^vmb. 
xxiii.  10. 

HUMAN  conduct,  as  far  as  it  is  governed  by  ihc 
spirit  of  this  world,  exhibits  a  wretched  and  con- 
temptible, but  a  dangerous  and  fatal  opposition  to  the 
Avill  of  God.  Men  would  be  happy  in  their  own  way; 
but  whether  they  succeed  in  their  pursuits,  or  whether 
they  fail,  they  find  themselves  miserable  in  the  end. 
God  is  conducting  us,  if  we  would  but  be  conducted, 
to  real  and  substantial  happiness,  but  it  is  through  a 
I'larrow  gate,  and  along  a  path  in  many  places  strewed 
with  thorns.  The  prosperous  successes  of  vanity  and 
wickedness,  like  a  sweet  poison,  may  afford  a  transient 
pleasure  in  the  moment  of  swallowing :  but  lasting 
and  unutterable  anguish  immediately  succeeds.  The 
bowels  are  torn  with  pain  insupportable,  and  the  man 
dies,  dies  forever,  for  the  indulgence  and  gratification 
of  one  poor  instant  of  time.  But  the  sacrifices  we  are 
enabled  to  make  to  God,  and  to  the  te:>timony  of  a 
good  conscience,  are  like  a  nauseous  medicine,  which 
by  means  of  a  short-lived  disgust,  rectifies  the  consti- 
tution, sweetens  the  blood,  confirms  health,  and  pro- 
longs a  happy  existence.  The  grievousness  ot"  afflic- 
tion in  due  season  "  yields  the  peaceable  fruits  of 
righteousness  to  them  who  arc  exercised  thereby." 


iECT.  XVI.  }irSTOUY    01-     liAf,  \.AM.  4Gi 

In  whatever  way  men  choose  to  live,  and  verv  (lilTLr- 
ent  are  the  roads  \vhi.ch  they  take,  they  have  but  one 
idea,  dtk  wish,  one  prayer,  in  the  prospect  of  death 
ami  eternity.  When  a  num  linds  hiinsellon  t!ie  brink 
of  the  world  of  spirits,  it  will  afford  him  but  slender 
consolation,  to  reflect  that  he  has  lived  long  enou;j;h  to 
amass  a  fortune,  to  enjoy  a  Umquet,  to  attain  a  post  of 
honor,  to  acquire  a  name.  And  he  will  feel  as  little 
pain  and  mortification,  on  the  other  hand,  in  recollect- 
ing that  he  has  passed  life  in  obscurity,  that  he  has 
struggled  with  poverty,  that  he  has  endured  unmerited 
reproach.  But  this  is  the  folly  and  the  misery  of  man  ; 
we  eagerly  imbil>e  and  follow  the  spirit  of  this  world 
while  we  live;  and  fondly  dream  of  assuming,  in  one 
propitious  instant,  the  spirit  of  heaven,  when  \\e  come 
to  die.  We  think  of  passing  out  thirty  or  forty  years 
with  the  gay,  the  giddy,  and  the  vain  ;  as  if  that  could 
be  a  preparation  for  an  eternity  with  God,  and  angels, 
and  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect.  Our  under- 
standing and  conscience  are  on  the  side  of  w  isdom 
and  piety ;  our  passions  and  habits,  and  alas  !  they 
are  more  powerful,  are  of  the  party  of  dissipation  and 
vice.  *'  The  fool  says  in  his  heart,  there  is  no  God  ;" 
and  men  reputed  wise,  live  as  if  there  were  none. 

The  unhappy  man,  whose  character  is  farther  un- 
folded to  us  in  the  text,  exhibits  a  most  affecting  ex- 
ample of  this  strange  inconsistency  and  self-delusion. 
AVho  so  enlightened  as  Balaam,  '*  which  heard  the 
words  of  God,  which  saw  the  vision  of  the  Almigluy  ?" 
Who  so  blind  as  the  covetous  prophet,  who  ''  loved 
the  wages  of  unrighteousness,"  whose  eyes  the  god 
of  this  world  blinded  ?  Hear  him  speak  ;  the  manna  of 
heavenly  eloquence  falls  from  his  lips  :  behold  him  act, 
and  lo,  a  fiend  from  hell  spreading  snares  and  destruc- 
tion. Under  the  control  of  God,  not  Moses  himself 
thinks  more  affectionately,  expresses  affection  more 
ardently  towards  Israel,  than  Balaam.  Under  the  im- 
pulse of  his  own  passions,   not  Satan  could  plot  more 


462  iiisioiiv  or  balaam.  lect.  xvi. 

malignantly  nor  more  efiectually.     As  the  prophet  of 
God,   who   so  warm  a  friend  ?    As  the  counsellor  of 
Balak,  who  so  dreadful  an  adversary  ?  In  the  jfc'ospect 
of  death,  who  more  devout  ?    In  life,   who  so  profli- 
gate?  In  judgment  and  opinion,    who  so  clear  and 
bound  ?  In  practice,  who  so  prostitute  and  abandoned  ? 
In  the  face  of  a  prohibition,  the  clearest  and  fullest 
that  words  could  convey,  through  the  diffi(  uUies  and 
dangers  of  a  journey  the  most  eventful   upon  record, 
Balaam  is  now  arrived  at  Balak 's  metropolis,  Kirjath- 
Jiuzoth,  the  city  of  streets.     Greetings,  such  as  may 
be  supposed  to  pass  between  wicked  and  selfish  men, 
being  over,  the  sacrifice  is  offered  up,  and  the  banquet 
is  prepared,  according  to  the  state  of  a  king,  and  the 
sacredness  and  importance  of  his  guest.     The  even- 
ing being  passed  in  festivity,  they  retire  to  rest ;  and, 
early  on  the   morrow,    Balaam  permits   himself  to  be 
conducted  by   the  Moabitish  prince  into  the  "  high 
places  of  Baal,  that  thence  he  might  see  the  utmost 
parts  of  the  people."     Here  the  cloven  foot  appears  at 
once.     Balaam  was  too  intelligent  to  believe  that  Baal 
was  an}'  thing;  that  his  sacrifices  or  high  places  were 
any  tiling  :   but  Balak's  gold  being,   indeed,   the  god 
whom  he  himself  worshipped,  it  is  to  him  a  matter  of 
the  last  indifference  before  what  idol  the  superstitious 
monarch  bowed.     Reason  and  religion  say,  "  What 
concord  can  there  be  between  God  and  Belial ;  be- 
tvicen  him  that  believeth,  and  an  infidel?   Ye  cannot 
serve  God  and  mammon."     But  avarice  will  attempt 
any  thing,  submit  to  any  thing,    commit  any  thing ; 
will  adore  the  God  of  Israel,  or  bend  at  the  altar  of 
Baal,  just  as  it  serves  the  occasion.     Balaam  even  vo- 
lunteers in  the  service  of  the  idol ;  feeds  the  supersti- 
tion of  Balak,  which  it  was  his  duty  to  have  correct- 
ed ;  and,  as  if  there  had  been  something  potent  and 
mysterious  in  the  number,  directs  seven  altars  to  be 
erected,  and  a  bullock  and  a  ram  to  be  prepared  for  ^ 
sacrifice  upon  each  of  the  seven. 


LECT,   XVI.  ]I1ST0UY    OP    BALAAM.  463 

Behold  how  soon  then  proof  of  a  speaking,  reason- 
ing brute,  tlie  tcrn^rs  of  the  0])posing  angel,  and  the 
admonitions  of  the  heavenly  vision,  are  disregarded 
and  forgotten  !  Balak  is  deliberately  suflered  to  remain 
the  dupe  of  his  own  credulity  :  he  is  fed  with  the  vain 
hope  of  triumph,  in  a  way  by  which  it  could  not  be 
achieved  ;  and  an  attempt  is  impiously  m^ide  to  aid 
him  in  an  enterprise  which  Heaven  had  repeatedly  con- 
demned ;  and,  dreadful  to  think,  this  is  done  under 
all  the  awful  forms  of  a  religious  service  ;  and  a  pur- 
pose too  vile  to  be  avowed,  eveiS  to  men,  is  presumptu- 
ously obtruded  upon  the  great  Jehovah,  as  if  his  de- 
terminations were  to  fluctuate  with  the  vile  interests 
and  caprices  of  mortals.  "  The  sacrifice  of  the  wick- 
ed," saith  the  wise  man,  "  is  an  abomination,  how 
much  more  when  he  bringeth  it  with  a  wicked  mind.'* 
The  religion  of  God  is,  "  I  will  have  mercy  and  not 
sacrifice."  But  the  leading  article  of  Balaam's  creed 
is,  "  Gain  is  godliness  :"  hence  he  attempts  to  sanc- 
tion cursing  and  cruelty,  under  the  solemn  ordinances 
of  the  blessed  God. 

We  have  observed  formerly,  without  pretending  to 
assign  a  reason  for  it,  that  the  number  seven  is,  through 
the  whole  of  divine  revelation,  connected  \\  ith  many 
important  ideas,  institutions  and  events,  in  cases  de- 
pending on  the  sovereign  authority  of  the  gieat  God. 
This  leads  us  to  conclude,  that  it  has  a  meaning  and 
design,  the  knowledge  of  which  is  cither  lost  to  the 
world,  or  never  has  yet  been  revealed  to  man.  It 
cannot  be  for  nothing  that  it  presents  itself  so  ofien, 
and  in  so  many  forms,  upon  the  sacred  page.  That 
Godrested  theseventhday  from  all  his  work,  and  sanc- 
tified it. ...that  on  the  solemn  day  of  the  atonement, 
under  the  law,  the  blood  of  the  sin-offering  was 
sprinkled  before  and  upon  the  mercy-seat  seven  times 
....that  the  altar  of  burnt-offering  was  consecrated  by 
being  anointed  seven  times  with  the  holy  oil. ...thai 
the  consecration  of  Aaron  to  the  priesthood  consisted 


464  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  LliCT.    XVI. 

of  a  service  of  seven  days — that  the  leper  was  to  be 
sprinkled,  in  order  to  purification,  seven  times  ;  and 
after  a  separation  of  seven  daA^s,  be  admitted  to  his 
rank  as  a  citizen. ...that  every  seventh  year  was  ordain- 
ed a  year  of  rest,  to  the  land  of  promise  ;  and  that  a 
revolution  of  seven  times  seVen  years  brought  on  the 
jubilee,  or  universal  release.... that  seven  priests,  bear- 
ing so  many  trumpets,  were  commanded  to  begin  the 
conquest  of  Canaan,  by  seven  days  encompassing  Je- 
richo ;  and  that,  upon  the  seventh  circuit,  and  at  the 
Seventh  blowing  of  the  trumpet,  the  walls  of  that  city 
should  fall  to  the  ground.... that  the  like  number  of 
priests  should  be  employed  to  precede  and  announce 
the  removal  of  the  ark,  when  David  brought  it  home ; 
and,  not  to  multiply  instances  without  end.. ..that  the 
Limb,  which  John  saw  in  vision  in  the  midst  of  the 
throne,  should  be  represented  as  having  spven  horns 
and  seven  eyes,  which  are  the  seven  sjnrits  of  God, 
sent  out  into  all  the  earth. ...that  the  book  in  the  right 
hand  of  Him  who  sat  upon  the  throne,  should  be  seal- 
ed with  seven  seals — that  in  these,  and  so  many  more 
cases,  which  the  careful  reader  of  the  scriptures  need 
not  have  pointed  out  to  him,  the  Spirit  of  God  should 
see  meet  to  press  upon  our  minds,  with  such  peculiar 
emphasis,  this  number  of  perfection,  as  it  has  been 
called  both  by  Jews  and  Heathens,  though  we  cannot 
account  for  it,  leads  to  this  pleasing  conclusion — That 
there  are  in  the  word  of  God,  manv  precious  mines  of 
knowledge,  yet  undiscovered ;  endless  mysteries  of 
wisdom,  goodness  and  love,  yet  to  be  unveiled ; 
depths  of  mercy,  which  the  c;ir  acity  of  angels  has  not 
yet  fathomed ;  heights  of  grace,  to  which  the  sera- 
phim's wing  hath  not  soared.  It  is  imagination,  merely, 
to  suppose  that  the  felicity  of  saints  in  bliss  may  con- 
si'-t  in  diving  deeper  and  deeper  into  the  plan  of  re- 
demption ;  in  tracing  its  progress,  its  history,  to  its 
consummation  ;  in  reading  this  wonderful  book,  with 
the  veil  lemoved  from  our  eves  ;   to  find   in  it  all  the 


LECr.  XVI.  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  4^5 

Ajtores  of  luitural,  moral  and  divine  tnilli  ;  in  forevfr 
liainmg,  ever  bediming  to  learn  "  tlie  love  ol  Clirist 
vvhieii  passetli  kiio\vlL(lu;e  ?"  1  will  indnlge  the  dear, 
the  dehglitlul  iiojje,  that  the  f)eriod  will  come,  when, 
laii;i:ht  oi"  I  hat  Si)nif ,  who  is  pro  iiised  to  "  take  ol"  tht; 
liiin^^s  ol"  Cinist  and  shew  them  niito  n>,"  I  .shall  di>- 
cover,  in  ihis  i)le>t  volume,  ten  thoni-.and  excellences 
to  which  I  am  now  blind  ;  ten  thou>and  trnths,  ot 
whi(;li  I  have  at  present  no  perceptiini;  ten  thousand 
beauties  1  am  now  incapable  of  relishing.   But  to  return. 

It  IS  no  i!;reat  wonder  to  find  a  man  ol"  so  mixed  a 
character  as  Balaam,  em[)Ioying  altars  and  vicfniis,  ac- 
cordin,:^  to  a  number  and  tiualii/lonu'  beiore  sanctitied 
by  the  a[)pointment  of  the  true  God.  For  all  ilie 
rites  of  idolahy  may  easily  be  traced  up  to  divine  in- 
stitntinns.  Bui  What  siomhes  the  form,  wiien  i  he  sj)i- 
rit  and  meaniiiiif  is  lost  ?  Chemosh  was  the  peculiar 
idol  of  tiie  Moabites,  as  we  iearn  from  chap.  xxi.  'J[), 
for  Baal,  tliat  is,  lord,  was  a  general  term,  chscriptive 
«)f  the  whole  tnbe  of  deities,  and  applied  by  everv 
particular  uaiion  to  its  respective  patron  ;  yet  we  liml 
Balak  easily  j)r  rsnaded  by  Balaam  to  oiler  .saenhce 
to  Jehovah.  Fortljev  that  have  false  notions  oi  De- 
it  v,  cannot  be  very  dillicult  in  tlieir  choi'  e  of  a  L'od  ; 
and  Baiak  probably  was  ^o  weak  as  to  imagiiu'.  Hi, it 
by  this  piece  of  flattery  and  re.spect,  the  God  of  the  Is- 
raelites might  be  decoyed  from  them,  witlidiaw  hi.s  pro- 
tection, and  give  them  up  to  the  sword  of  their  enemies. 

Balaam,  now  tbe  saciifice  was  set  on  fire,  direcs 
the  king  to  stand  by  it,  in  solemn  exfjectation  oi'  its 
success;  lie  himself  withdraws  to  an  "  nigh  place,"  or, 
lie  vvent  sulitary ;  |)robabJy  to  some  adjoining  clift  of 
tiie  rock,  lav(jial)le  either  to  meditation,  or  the  practice 
of.  his  tnchantmenls  ;  lor  observation  ot  any  preterna- 
tural sijjns  that  might  be  given,  or  for  a  clearer  j)ros- 
[ject  of  tlie  <.amp  to  be  dev(»led.  Nothing  astoni.sh- 
cs  me  more  tiian  the  boldness  of  this  leln  at.  An 
ail  conscience  seeks  concealment  from  the  eye  o  '  Gxi 
in  noise  and  a  cro.vd.  To  what  a  pitch  ot  insensibility 
VOL.  n.  •>  ^ 


466'  m^TORY  OF- BALA  AM.  LECT.  XVi. 

lias  this  man  attaiQed,.  wlio  has  the  dreadful  courage 
io  p,o  forth  to  meet  an  offended  God  in  solitude  I 
"  And  God  met  Balaam."  I>ii  wliat  manner  we  are 
not  told,  neither  is  it  of  any  importance  to  know  ;. 
hutiti.sof  importance  to  observe  that  "God's  ways 
are  not  out  ways,. nor  his  thoughts  our  thoughts."  In- 
sulted in  the  same  manner,  what  man  but  would  have 
i'eit  resentment,  and  have  returned  insult  for  insult  !  In. 
nothing,  Father  of  Mercies  !  is  thy  glorious  superiority 
more  conspicuous  than  in  thy  gentleness  and  patience. 
God  is  not  an^an,  that  he  should  be  ruffled  and  discom- 
posed,-nor  the  son  of  man,  that  he  should  oppose  vehe- 
mence to  vehemence.  The  w  rath  of  man  provokes 
him  not,  the  haste  of  man  urges  him  not, the  tardiness  of 
man  delnys  him  not,  the  flattery  of  man  sways  him  not. 

Balaam  has  the  confidence  to  advance  a  plea  of  me- 
rit for  the  service  which  he  had  performed,  in  erecting 
HO  many  aUars,  and  oOering  so  many  victims ;  but  he 
has  not  the  assurance  to  avow  the  motive,,  nor  directly 
to  prefer  the  request  to  which  it  plainly  led..  Without 
j)aying  tlie  least  regard  to  the  one  or  to  the  other,^ 
God,  the  great  God,  puts  the  word  he  would  have 
spoken  into  Balaam's  moutlj,  and  sends  him  .back  to 
pronounce  it  aloud  in  the  ear  of  Balak,  and  liis  atten- 
dants. 1-see,  with  an  honest  satisfaction,,  the  disap- 
pointed morlilied  enchanter,  returning  vviili  downcast 
eyes,  sullen  and  slow  from  the  solemn  meeting:  his 
schemes  of  malignity  checked  and  prohibited,  all  his 
prospects  of  ambition  and  avarice  forever  blasted  , 
cursing  in  his  heart  that  inflexibility  of  purpose  which 
he  durst  neither  attempt  to  alter  or  oppose.  I  see 
the  expecting  monarch  in  the  midst  of  his  seven  al- 
tars, all  eye  to  watch  the  moment  of  the  prophet's  re- 
turn ;  eagerly  anticpating  his  message  from  his  looks^, 
and  all  ear  to  hi?ar  it  delivered  in  articulate  sounds. 

The  emotions  which  filled  the  hearts  of  both,  are  to 
be  conceived,  not  described,  when  the  reluctant  tongue 
of  Balaam  thus  pronounced  the  immutable  decree  et* 
the  Holy  Oracle,  while  the  assembled  princes  of  MoaK 


XTLCT.    XVI.  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  40? 

iistPiierl  with  sorrow  and  disappointment.  *'  Balak, 
the  kiii:,^()r  Moab,  hath  hrout^dit  me  fVom  Aram,  out 
oi  the  mountains  ot't}>e  east,  sayinij,  Come,  curse  me 
Jacob,  and  come  defy  Israel.  How  shall  I  curse 
whom  God  hath  not  cursed  ?  Or  how  shr.lj  I  defy 
whom  the  Lord  liath  not  defied  ?  For  from  the  lop  of 
the  rocks  I  see  him,  and  from  the  hills  I  hjhold  liim  ; 
lo,  the  people  siiall  dwell  alone,  and  shall  not  he  reck- 
oned among  the  nations.  Who  can  count  the  dust  of 
Jacob,  and  the  number  of  the  fourth  part  of  Israel,'* 
Chap,  xxiii.  7...10. 

Tne  tirst  reflection  that  naturally  presents  itself,  on 
hearing  these  words,  is  one  that  has  frequently  occur- 
red in  the  course  of  these  exercises,  and  which  it  is  im- 
possible to  repeat  too  often  :,..How  wonderful,  how 
tremendous,  how  irresistible  the  power  of  God,  which 
has  thus  all  matter,  all  spirit,  at  its  disposal.!  which 
<:an  make  the  dumb  ass  speak  what  naturally  he  can- 
not, and  the  mad  prophet  to  utter  what  wickedly  and 
perversely  he  would  not :  and  ■*'  out  of  the  mouths  of 
babes  and  sucklings  perfecteth  praise."  Mark  how 
God  brings  to  nought  the  counsel  of  the  heathen  ; 
writes  vanity  upon  the  counsels  of  princes,  and  *'  mak- 
eth  diviners  mad."  Thus  said  Balak ;  thus  did  the 
king  of  Moab;  how  poor  and  contemptible,  compar- 
ed to  '*  Thus  saith  the  Lord."  "The  enemy  said,  1 
will  pursue,  I  will  overtake,  I  will  divide  the  spoil :  my 
•  lu:?t  shall  be  satisfied  upon  them;  I  will  draw  my 
sword,  my  hand  shall  destroy  them.  Thou  didst  blow 
with  thy  wind,  the  sea  covered  them  ;  they  sank  as  lead 
in  the  mighty  waters.  Who  is  like  unto  thee,  OLord 
amongst  thegods  !  who  is  like  thee,  glorious  in  holiness, 
fearful  in  praises,  doing  wonders!"  Exod.  xv,  9.,. 
H.  Mark  how  the  slow  and  reluctant  prophecy  of 
Balaam  accords  with  the  predictions  of  former  times, 
and  the  history  of  periods  yet  to  come.  *'  Look  up 
now,"  says  God  to  Abraham,  "  toward  heaven,  and 
tfll  the  stars,  if  thou  be  able  to  number  them  :  and  he 
ia.d  unto  him,  So  shall  thy  seed  be,"  Gen-  xv.  5.   And 


468f  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  LECT.  XVI* 

]o,  the  promise  is  more  than  fulfilled  :  it  is  infinitely 
exceeded  by  the  accomplishment.  "  Who  can  count 
tiie  (hhst  oi'  Jacob,  and  ihe  number,  of  the  fourth  part 
el  Isiael  r"  Look  forward  to  the  days  of  Solomon, 
woen  the  ylory  of  Israel  was  in  its  zenith,  when  the  des- 
cendants of  tt.e  men  in  the  plams  of  Moab  were  mi:l- 
tiplied  as  the  sand  on  the  sea  shore  ;  and  thence  rise 
higher  still,  to  a  greater  promise,  to  a  belter  covenant, 
to  the  spiritual  seed  of  taitlifut  Abraham,  increased  to 
*' a  great  mulntude,  which  no  man  can  number,  of  all 
natr  n>  and  kiiid;eds  and  peo[)!e  and  tongues,  stiuirii-ig 
beiore  the  thr^'ue  and  belore  tie  Lamb,  clothed  uith 
■Willie  robes,  and  palms  in  tlieir  hands,"  Rev.  vii.  9; 
€  ncaijip'd  not  in  a  fertile  terrestrial  plain,  bat  expatiat- 
ing through  the  vast  regions  of  eternal  day,  and  pos- 
sessing, not  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  but 
the  pure  and  sublhne  delights  of  the  paradise  of  God. 
How  1  envy  Balaam  the  prospect  from  the  top  of  the 
rock  !  A  rieii  champaign  country,  skirted  by  the  silver 
.[vJidan,  m  etmg  the  distant  horizon  ;  the  tents  of 
Israel  spread  out  like  the  trees  in  the  Ibrest,  and  co- 
vering an  mnumerable  multitude  ;  a  whole  nation  of 
men  beloved  of  God,  and  destioed  to  coiujuest  ;  the 
spacious  tabernacle,  the  habitation  of  the  Most  High, 
expanded  in  the  midst,  and  the  cloud  of  glory  the  un- 
ecjuivocai  proof  of  the  presence  of  the  great  King,  rest- 
ing noon  it.  IIov;  manv  objects  to  delight  tiie  eye,  to 
swell  the  imagination,  to  elevate  the  soul  !  No  won- 
der the  tongue  of  emy  was  charmed  from  its  purpose. 
But  rdas  1  the  heart  of  malice  and  covetonsness  re- 
mains unchanged  ;  a  chest  full  of  gold  had  been  to  Ba- 
Jaamasight  nn)re  enchanting.  Place  him  in  heaven,  like 
Mamnjon,  his  father,  according  to  the  description  of  our 
great  poct,hisaitcntion  had  been  fixed  buton  one  object : 
"  Mammon,  the  least  erected  spirit  that  fell 
rroin  heaven  ;  for  even  in  heaven,  his  looks  and  thoughts 
"Were  always  downward  bent,  adinirinsj  more 
The  riches  of  heaven's  pavement,  trodden  gold, 
Than  -.ught  divine  or  holy  else  enjoyed 
In  vision  beatific' 

The  beauuf.il   view  beneath,  therefore,  was  to  Ba- 


LECT.  XVI.  HISTORY  OF  H  ALA  AM.  469 

laam  what  tlie  conjugal  bliss  of  our  first  parents  in  pa- 
radise uas  toSulaii,  according  to  the  same  ^re^t  port ; 
who,  beholding  their  pure  and  innocent  all'ection, 
*"'  turned  aside  lor  envy,"  and  excl'jmerl  : 

"   Sight  hateful,  siijht  tormeiuiug  !   TIius  ihcse  two, 

Impaiadiii'd  ii)  one  another  s  arms. 

The  happier  Ecleri,  shall  enjoy  their  fill 

Of  bliss  on  bliss,   while  I  to  liell  am  thrust  ; 

Where  neither  joy  nor  love,  l.ut  fierce  desire, 

Still  unfilled,  with  p;tin  of  loUi^iiv.^  pines." 
It  was  a  spirit  and  a  sitnaiiun  n:)t  unlike  to  this, 
which  suggested  to  the  wicked  prophet  the  words  of 
the  text ;  '*  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and 
Jet  my  last  end  be  hke  his  !"  Verse  10.  Unhappy  Ba- 
laam I  he  descried  Irom  the  top  of  the  ocks  oooiJIy 
tents,  in  which  he  had  no  part  nor  lot  ;  ludi>cerned 
the  happy  estate  of  th(*  righteous,  but  cliose  to  be  a 
partaker  with  the  ungodly  ;  he  admireu  and  envied  the 
happy  end  of  the  people  of  God,  but  (elt  his  own  end 
approaching  without  hope  ;  he  saw  and  approvecJ  the 
beauty  and  loveliness  ofvirtue  ;  lie  persisted  to  the  last, 
pursuuig  and  cleaving  to  the  wages  of  unrighteousness. 
But  what,  1  beseech  you,  could  dictate  this  wish  to 
Balaam  ?  What  but  a  strong  and  irresistible  persuasion 
of  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  and  an  approaching 
unalterable  slate  of  rewards  and  i)unishmenls  .?  What 
but  a  consciousness  of  liaving  acted  wrong,  and  the 
dreadful  knov\  h.dge  of  his  being  accountable  to  a  holy 
and  righteous  God  ?  Arid  is  it  really  possible  for  rea- 
sonable creatures  to  fall  into  such  a  gross  absurdity  and 
contradiction  ?  And  can  there  exist  such  characters  in 
the  world.''  Let  us  bring  the  case  home  to  ourselevrs. 
Jt  is  too  evident  to  need  a  proof,  that  many  indulgi; 
themselves  in  very  un  .varraiitable  practices,  whose  re- 
ligious principles,  nutuit  hstiuiding,  are  exceedingly 
sound  and  just.  Try  ihcin  on  the  side  of  .soundness 
in  sentiment  and  o|>mion,  and  they  talk  and  reUNon 
like  anirels  from  heaven  .  consider  how  tliev  live,  thev 
are  mere  men  of  this  world.  They  liud  asalvo  for  con- 
science, by  making  a  sort  of  comijosiliuii  with  their 
Maker,    as  some  men   find  a  salvo  lor  their  intr'grity, 


470  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  LECT.  XVI. 

by  putting  off  their  good-natured  creditors  with  a  cer- 
tain proportion  oftheirdebt,  when  they  are  either  unwil- 
ling or  unable  to  pay  the  whole.  And,  withequal  in- 
solence and  [.resumption,  the  one  vainly  imagines  that 
iiis  Creator  and  Lord,  the  otlier  that  his  credulous  fi iend 
may  think  themselves  sufliciently  satisfied  with  such 
partial  payments  as  they  think  fit  to  render.  Such  of 
God's  commands  ihey  will  cheerfully  obey  j  but  as  to 
others,  why,  they  will  make  ail  the  atonement  in  their 
power,  the  proud,  the  ambitious,  the  covetous,  the  disso- 
lute, each  in  a  way  that  shall  not  clash  with  his  favo- 
rite pursuit.  One  will  giv€  his  time,  another  his  dili- 
gence, a  third  his  money  to  God,  just  according  as  it 
is  the  article  upon  which  he  himself  puts  least  value, 
and  the  conscious  deficiency  he  attempts  feebly  to  eke 
<jut,  by  faint  hopes  and  half  resolves,  that  some  time 
or  another  he  will  exhibit  a  more  uniform  and  thorough 
obedience  to  the  will  of  God. 

When  the  command  is  clear  and  express,  to  ques- 
tion and  reason  on  the  subject  is  rebellion.  By  this 
the  allegiance  of  man  m  a  state  of  innocence  was  as- 
sailed ;  and,  listening  to  this,  he  staggered  and  fell  : 
"  Yea,  hath  God  said,  Ye  shall  not  eat  of  every  tree 
of  the  garden  r"  When  temptation  of  this  sort  is  once 
listened  to,  men  will  gradually  come  to  doubt  of  every 
thing,  and  learn  to  explain  away  every  thing.  De- 
liberation and  doubt  in  the  face  of  **  Thus  saith  the 
Lord,"  are  dishonesty  and  impiety  :  and  to  attempt 
to  get  rid  of  one  uneasy  text  of  scripture,  is  a  direct 
attack  on  the  validity  of  the  whole. 

When  we  see  in  man  so  intelligent  as  Balaam,  duped 
by  his  passions  into  a  train  of  lolly  and  wickedness  ^o 
gross  and  palpable,  let  us  look  well  to  ourselves.  The 
absurdities  into  which  we  fall,  escape  our  own  notice; 
but  a  discerning  by-stander  sees  them,  smiles  at  them, 
perhaps  makes  his  advantage  of  them.  If  we  are  con- 
scious of  the  intluence  of  any  very  powerful  propen- 
sity, or  aversion,  it  is  a  just  ground  of  suspicion,  that  we 
may  be  lonpted  to  act  unworthily ;  and  it  is  a  power- 


tECT.   XVI,  HISTORY  OF   BALAAM.  47 1 

fill    aclmonilion  to  uatcli  our  liearts  narrow  ly  on  tlie 
.side  ofthat  inlirmity  **  wliich  doth  more  easily  beset  us."^ 

We  see  in  the  «lyin>(  slr^:J;^les  of  B.ilaam's  C(>n- 
science,  udeep,  a  rooted  concern  about  tutinit)  :  acon- 
cern  which  no  one,  let  him  say  what  lie  willjias  been  able 
to  overcome.  His  ardent  wish,  **  Let  me  die  the  d(  atli 
otthe  ri«^hteous,"  is  the  involunlary  hotruiire  which  vice 
pays  to  piety.  Think  what  way,  live  what  way  men 
will,  they  have  but  one  thought,  one  conviction,  one 
prayer,  when  they  come  to  die.  After  the  pleasure  or 
the  advantage  of  a  wicked  action  is  over,  who  would 
not  gladly  get  clear  of  the  guilt  of  it  ?  But  this  is  the 
misery  ;  the  profit  and  pleasure  quickly  pass  away, 
the  guilt  aiKl  pain  are  immortal.  Could  a  lazy  wish 
or  two  supply  the  place  of  virtue,  all  would  be  well  i 
the  conscience  would  go  to  rest,  the  "  strong  man 
armed  would  keep  the  house."  But  the  very  wishes 
of  indolence  and  impiety  betray  their  own  t];msiness  ; 
ajid  Balaam  feels  his  own  prayer  falling  back  with  an 
oppressive  weight  on  his  guilty  head.  Let  us  be  in- 
structed to  mend  )t  a  little,  and  say  with  Paul,  "  None 
of  us  liveih  to  himself,  and  no  man  dieth  to  himself. 
For  whether  we  live,  we  live  unto  the  Lord  ;  and  whe- 
ther we  die,  we  die  unto  the  Lord  :  whether  we  live 
therefore,  or  die,  we  are  the  Lord's,"  Rom.  xiv.  7,  55. 
"  To  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain."  Lord 
help  us  so  to  live,  as  to  be  raised  above  the  fear  of 
cteath.  Let  me  fail  asleep  in  the  bosom  of  my  hea- 
venly Father,  and  I  sliall  awake  in  perfect  peace. 

Llappy,  mispeakably  happy,  they,  who  in  reviewing 
life,  and  in  the  prospect  of  death,  can  with  holy  jov 
and  confidence  adopt  these  words  of  the  apostle,  and 
say,  "  I  am  now  ready  to  be  otfered,  and  the  time  of 
my  departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  lought  tlie  good  fight, 
I  have  finished  my  course,  1  have  kept  the  faith: 
Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righte- 
ousness, which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  shall 
give  me  at  that  day  :  and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto 
all  them  also  that  love  his  appearing,"  2  Tun.  iv.  6... a. 


HISTORY  OF  BALAAM. 


LECTURE  XVII. 

Bui  I  have  a  few  things  against  thee,  because  thou  hast 
there  them,  tliat  hold  the  doctrine  oj  Balaam,  zvh» 
tan  gilt  Batali  to  cast  a  stimibling- block  t)e/ore  the 
children  of  Israel,  to  eat  things  sucrifced  unto  idols, 
and  to  commit  fornication.  ...li.t\ELAi  i.o]<is  li.  14. 

THE  mystery  of  iniquity,  which  the  human  heart 
is  daily  bringing  to  light,  is  a  strange  and  incom- 
])rehen.sible  as  any  thing  in  the  iVame  of  nature,  or  m 
the  conduct  of  Providence.  In  thefirtt  ages  of  a  sin- 
ful career,  a  spectator  could  not  conceive,  the  man 
himself  .cannot  believe  the  desperate  wickedness  to 
which  he  may  in  time  be  brought.  The  latter  end  is  so 
very  unlke  tlie  beginning,  ttiat  it  becomes  matter  of 
astonishment  how  the  same  person  could  possibly  be 
so  much  changed,  and  by  what  steps  the  man  was  gra- 
dually transformed  into  the  devil.  Scripture  repre- 
sents to  us  a  man  shrinking  from  horror  from  a  prophe- 
tic display  of  his  own  cliaracter,  and  an  antici}  aJed 
view  of  his  own  conduct...*' AVhai,  is  thy  servant  a 
dog,  that  he  should  do  this  great  thing  ?"  !2  Kings  viii, 
13.  He  viewed  it  then,  through  the  calm  medium  of 
reason,  humanity,  and  conscience;  and  jusily  repro- 
bated, what  passion  and  opportunity  afterwards 
prompted  him  to  act,  without  pity  or  remorse. 

The  progress  of  sin  is  like  that  of  certain  diseases, 
whose  fu'st  svmptoms  give  no  alarm  ;  to  wliich  a  vigo- 
rous constitution  bids  a  bold  defiance,  and  treats  with 
neglect;  but  which,  through  that  neglect,   silently  lix 


LECT.   XVII.  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  473 

upon  some  of  the  nobler  parts,  prey  unseen,  iinob<;erv- 
ed  upon  the  vil.ils,  and  the  man  hnds  himselt  dyinj^ji 
before  he  apprthe'ided  any  danger.  It  was  but  a  slight 
cold,  a  tickling  cou'^h,  a  small  difficulty  of  breathing; 
but  imperceptibly  becomes  an  intolerable  oppression^ 
an  universal  weakness,  an  extenuating  hectic,  under 
which  nature  fails ;  the  nails  bend  inwards,  the  hairs 
fall  off,  the  legs  swell,  the  eyes  sink,  and  the  cold 
hand  of  death  sloiis  the  languid  current  at  the  foun- 
tain. Thus  the  giddy  sullies  of  youth,  the  mistakes 
of  inconsideration,  the  errors  of  inexperience,  through 
neglect,  presumption  and  indulgence,  become,  before 
men  are  aware,  habits  of  vice,  constitutional  mala- 
dies, by  which  manhood  is  dishonored,  old  age  be- 
comes pitiable,  and  death  is  rendered  dreadful  b<-yond 
expression.  These  considerations  clearly  justify  and 
enforce  the  advice  of  the  apostle;  "  Exhort  one  ano- 
ther daily  while  it  is  called  to-day  ;  lest  any  of  you  be 
hardened  through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin,"  Heb. 
iii.  13, 

If  there  be  a  history  and  a  character,  which,  more 
powerfully  than  another,  press  this  exhortation  upoa 
ihe  conscience,  it  is  the  history  and  character  of  Ba- 
laam, the  son  of  Bosor,  "  who  taught  Balak  to  cast  a 
stumbling-block  before  the  children  of  Israel,  to  eat 
things  sacrificed  unto  idols,  and  to  commit  forni- 
cation." We  have  traced  his  progress  from  Aram 
to  Moab,  and  found  him  pertinaciously  adhering  to  an 
impious  purpose,  with  an  understanding  clearly  in- 
formed as  to  his  duty,  and  a  conscience  perfectly  awake 
to  his  situation.  It  is  unpleasant,  but  God  grant  it 
may  not  be  unprofitable,  to  attend  bim  through  the  re- 
mainder of  his  wicked  and  abominable  course. 

Balak  chagrined  and  disappointed  to  hear  the  eulogy 
of  Israel  from  those  lips  which  he  had  hired  to  curse 
them,  weakly  hopes  to  change  the  counsels  of  Heaven, 
by  changing  the  place  of  his  own  view  :  and  Balaam 
wickedly   humors   his  fondness  and  credulity.     The 

VOL.   II-  3  p 


4i4  nisTORY  of  'Salaam.  lect.  xvir* 

Moabitish  prince  ascribes   the  rapturous  expressions' 
of  the  prophet,  to  the  full  and  distinct  prospect  which 
he  had  of  the  camp  of  Israel,  and  therefore  proposes  to 
view  it  f!f)m  a  new  station,  whence  its  extremity  only 
^vus  visible,   in  the   hope  that  a  partial  survey  of  that 
glory  might  encourage  him  to  blast  it  with  a  curse. 
He  conducts  him  accordingly  into  the  field  of  Zophim, 
to  the  top  of  Pisgah,  and  another  preparatory  sacrifice 
is  offered  up  of  seven  bullocks  and  seven  rams,  upon 
as  many    different   altars ;  and  the  hardened    wretch 
has  the  impious  boldness  of  retiring  a  second  time  to 
meet  God  on  this  ungracious  errand.     An  answer  is 
now  put  into  his  mouth,  which  levels  a  mortal  blow  at 
the  hopes  of  his   wicked  employer,  awd  the  wrath  of 
man  serves  but  the  more  illustriously  to  praise  God. 
Who  but  must  shudder  to  hear  such  words  as  these  fal- 
ling from  such  a  tongue  ?  *'  Rise  up  Balak,  and  hear  ; 
hearken  unto  me,  thou  son  of  Zippor  :  God  is  not  a 
man,  that  he  should  lie  ;  neither  the  son  of  man  that 
he  should  repent :  Hath  he  said,  and  shall  he  not  do 
it  ?  Or  hath  he  spoken,  and  shall  he  not  make  it  good  ? 
Behold,  I  have  received  commandment  to  bless  :  and 
he  hath  blessed,  and  I  cannot  reverse  it.     He  hath  not 
beheld  iniquity  in  Jacob,  neither  hath  he  seen  perverse- 
ness  in  Israel :   the  Lord  his  God  is  with  him,  and  the 
shout  of  a  king  is  among  them.     God  brought  them 
out  of  Egypt ;  he  hath  as  it  w  ere  the  strength  of  an 
unicorn.     Surely  there  is  no  enchantment  against  Ja- 
cob, neither  is  there  any  divination  against  Israel :  ac- 
cording to  this  time  it  shall  be  said  of  Jacob  and  of  Is- 
rael. What  hath  God  wrought !  Behold,  the  people  shall 
rise  up  as  a  great  lion  ;  and  lift  up  himself  as  a  young 
lion  :   he  shall  not  lie  dou  n  until  he  eat  of  the  prey,  and 
drink  of  the  blood  of  the  slain,"  Numb,  xxiii.  18. ..24. 
"  Happy  is  that  people  that  is  in  such  a  case :  yea,  happy 
is  that  people,  whose  God  is  the  Lord,"  Psal.  cxliv.  15. 
The  time  would  fail  to  go  into  a  particular  detail  of 
the  events  which  justify  this  noble  prediction.     But 


I.ECT«XVII.  IIISTORV   OF    KALAAM.  ^75 

Avc  should  do  it  infinite  iiijusticc  to  restrict  its  mcaninj^ 
to  one  particukir  nation,  to  transitory  purposes,  or  to 
temporal  events.  It  is  i^lorionsly  descriptivf  oK  tl.e. 
unchans^cable  l;iithfnl;u'ss,  the  undc^  iatin^'"  tiuth.  the  al- 
mighty proteetion,  the  immoveabje  love  of  God  to  hiis 
people.  ]t  s})e:il;.s  the  blcbsedness  of  iheuian  ''whose 
transgression  is  ic^rgiven,  whose  sin  is  eoAered.  'i'he 
blessedness  of  the  man  unto  whom  tlve  Loid  imputeth 
not  iniquity,  and  in  whose  sj)irit  tliere  is  no  guile,'* 
Psalm  xxxii.  1,2.  It  exposes  the  impotence  of  Sa- 
tan, and  of  all  the  enemies  of  their  salvation.  It  ex- 
hibits the  final  triumph  of  the  church  of  God,  dirough 
the  great  Captain  of  their  salvation,  who  unites  in  his 
person,  among  other  wonderful  extremes,  the  character 
of  "  the  Lamb  slain,  to  take  away  the  sins  of  the 
world,"  and  of  the  "  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judaii," 
the  great  Lion  who  lifteth  up  himself  "  and  shall  not 
lie  down,  until  he  cat  of  the  prey,  and  drink  the  blood 
of  the  slain."  And,  it  prefigures  their  last  joyful  en- 
campment in  the  heavenly  plains,  where  the  shout  of  a 
king  shall  be  forever  heard  among  them,  and  the  glory 
X)f  the  Lord  arise  upon  them,  to  set  no  more. 

This  decisive  answer  seems  for  a  moment  to  ha^•c 
quashed  the  hopes  of  Balak,  aiul  he  is  now  disposed 
to  compound  with  the  prophet  for  total  silence.  "  Nei- 
ther curse  them  at  all,  nor  bless  them  at  all,"  Verse 
25.  But  O,  the  obstinate  perseverance  of  the  carnal 
mind  in  a  sinful  x;ourse1  After  all  he  Jiad  seen  and 
heard,  he  returns  a  third  time  to  the  charge,  and  dreams 
of  another  station,  a  repeated  sacrifice,  and  an  altered 
purpose.  How  mortifying  to  think  that  good  men  arc 
so  much  sooner  weary  of  well-doing,  so  much  more 
easily  discouraged  from  the  jvjrsuit  of  dut} .  But 
though  Balaam  gave  directions  for  the  building  of  new 
altars,  he  can  no  longer  Ijc  the  dupe  of  his  own  :jiiifiil 
wishes  and  magical  arts,  and  therefore  dares  not  to 
have  recourse  to  them  again.  Such  is  the  aw  ful,  such 
the  glorious  power  of  God  !   Magicians  may  for  a  lit-r 


476  HISTORY  OF  Balaam.  lect  xvrr*^^ 

tie  while  amuse  themselves,  and  deceive  others,  by 
their  enchantments  ;  but  Aaron's  rod  at  length  swal- 
lovi  s  up  those  of  Egyptian  wizards ;  and  Balaam  is  at 
length  constrained  to  resign  his  fruitless  arts,  and  to 
acknowledge  the  finger  of  God  from  the  top  of  Peoi-, 
where  Baal  was  worshipped.  He  again  surveys  the 
tents  of  Israel,  where  Jehovah  resided,  and  charmed, 
by  the  prospect,  from  his  malevolent  design,  seems  to 
give  cordially  in  to  the  views  of  that  Spirit  who  spake 
by  his  mouth.  "  And  when  Balaam  saw  that  it  pleas- 
ed the  Lord  to  bless  Israel,  he  went  not  as  at  other 
times  to  seek  fur  enchantments,  but  he  set  his  face 
toward  the  wilderness.  And  Balaam  lift  up  his  eyes,, 
and  he  saw  Israel  abiding  in  his  tents,  according  to 
their  tribes  ;  and  the  Spirit  of  God  came  upon  him. 
And  he  took  up  his  parable,  and  said,  Balaam  the  son 
of  Beor,  hath  said,  and  the  man  whose  eyes  are  open 
hath  said  :  he  hath  said,  which  heard  the  words  oC 
God,  which  saw  the  vision  of  the  Almighty,  falling- 
into  a  trance,  but  having  his  eyes  open  :  How  goodly 
are  thy  tents,  O  Jacob,  and  thy  tabernacles,  O  Israel ! 
As  the  vallies  are  they  spread  forth,  as  gardens  by  the 
river's  side,  as  the  trees  of  lign-aloes  whicii  the  Lord 
hath  planted,  and  as  cedar  trees  besides  the  waters. 
He  shall  pour  the  water  out  of  his  buckets,  and  his 
seed  shall  be  in  many  waters,  and  his  king  shall  be 
higher  than  Agag,  and  his  kingdom  shall  be  exalted. 
God  brought  him  forth  out  of  Egypt,  he  hath  as  it 
were  the  strength  of  an  unicorn:  he  shall  eat  up  the 
nations  his  enemies,  and  shall  break  their  bones  and 
pierce  them  through  with  his  arrows.  He  couched, 
he  lay  down  as  a  lion,  and  as  a  great  lion  :  who  shall 
I  stir  him  up?    Blessed  is   he    that   blesseth   thee,  and 

1  cursed  is  he  that  curseth  thee,"  Chap,  xxiiv.  1..  9. 

Oar  chief  object  at  present  being  to  illustrate  the 
character  of  Balaam,  and  to  improve  it,  we  are  to  con- 
sider his  prophecy  chiefly  in  that  view,  abstracted  from 
the  great  and  glorious  truths  which  it  contains.     And 


LECT.  XVll.  HISTORY   OF    BALAAM.  477, 

we  observe,  first,  that  it  behoved  him  now  to  be  con- 
vinced by  so  many  sucressive  and  corresjionding  reve- 
lations, of  the  steady,  determined  purpose  of  Fleaven, 
in  favor  of  Israel.  In  spite  of  ah  his  subterfiiires,  after 
all  his  turnini^s  and  windings,  he  finds  himself  still 
brought  back  to  the  same  point;  a  language  is  forced 
upon  his  tongue  \\hich  his  heart  rejected,  a  glory  is 
spread  before  his  eyes,  which  cxciteci  only  envy  and 
sorrow  :  and  this  renders  his  after  conduct  more  un- 
accountable,  odious  and  criminal.  Indeed  it  is  a  com- 
plicated  transgression,  containing  so  many  circum- 
stances  of  aggravation,  that  we  should  be  tempted  to 
doubt  its  existence,  did  not  melancholy  experience 
too  frequently  confirm  the  ])ossibilify  of  it. 

We  observe,  secondly,  that  truth  is  not  injured  by 
being  conveyed  through  an  impure  channel,  and  there- 
fore ought  not  to  be  rejected  on  that  account.  Indeed 
it  rather  confers  a  higher  lustre  upon  it,  just  as  hypo- 
crisy pays  the  most  honorable  compliment  to  true  re- 
ligion, by  assuming  its  sacred  habit  and  form.  The 
word  of  God  shall  not  fail  of  its  effect,  though  Ba- 
laam, or  though  Satan  speak  it.  It  may  do  good  to 
others,  while  he  who  bears  it  is  injured,  not  benefited. 
And  surely,  when  we  hear  such  divine  sentences  com- 
ing from  such  unhallowed  lips,  a  holy  jealousy  will  be 
kindled,  a  holy  watchfulness  inculcated  on  all  who 
bring  the  messages  of  God  to  others ;  as  the  great 
aposde  of  the  Gentiles  felt  and  expressed,  when  he 
says,  "  I  keep  under  my  body,  and  bring  it  into  sub- 
jection :  lest  that  by  any  means,  w  hen  I  have  preached 
to  others,  1  myself  should  be  a  cast  away,"  1  Cor. 
ix.  27. 

We  are  led,  thirdly,  to  observe  and  to  lament  how 
rarelv  fine  talents  and  ample  means  of  doing  good  are 
in  the  possession  of  an  honest,  benevolent  and  bancti- 
fied  heart  I  The  elevation  of  genius  too  seldom  aims 
its  flight  to  the  feet  of  the  Father  of  lights,  ;'  from 
whom  Cometh  down  every   good  gift  and  every  per- 


4<8  HISTORY    OF   JiALAAM.  LECT.   XVII. 

feet;"  and  affluence  is  frequently  abused,  to  increase 
tnat  misery  v\liic.irit  was  given  to  relieve.  i3ut  then, 
bureh',  men  are  likcst  God,  when  enlargement  of  un- 
clersLanding,  and  plenitude  of  power,  obey  the  calls  of 
?;^oodness,  and  stiive  to  diffuse  more  Vtidelv  the  <^ift& 
of  an  indulgent  Piovidcnce ;  and  that  benevolence  is 
the  most  exalted,  which  aims  at  the  highest  good,  and 
^ceks  to  promote  interests  that  are  immortal.  What 
then  must  be  the  malignity  of  that  heart  which,  ia 
jialaam,  perverted  the  soundest  understanding,  'dis- 
iiguered  and  misled  the  finest  abilities  ?  How  dark  and 
(lismii!  that  unfeeling  passion,  w  hich  scrupled  not  to 
devote  a  whole  nation,  for  the  sake  of  a  little  siher  and 
i;oId  !  How  greatly  do  men  err  in  the  estimation  wliich 
they  make  both  of  their  own  qualities  and  those  of 
others !  Those  of  the  head  are  the  objects  of  univer- 
i,al  admiration,  the  subject  of  univc^rsal  praise;  those 
of  the  heart  are  lightly  esteemed,  and  do  not  alv\'ays 
escape  censure.  But  apply  the  balance  of  the  sanctuary, 
and  w  hat  a  reverse!  A  little  humility  outweighs  a  great 
deal  of  learning  ;  laith  as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed  pre- 
ponderates against  a  mountain  of  gold  ;  and  charity, 
tliough  with  the  simplicity  of  a  child,  brings  down  the 
scale,  against  the  wit  of  men,  and  the  eloquence  of 
angels.  By  all  means  covet  earnestly  the  best  gifts, 
th(..ugh  they  fall  to  the  lot  of  but  a  few  ;  but  rather 
cultivate  the  more  precious  graces  which  God  conl'er- 
reth  liberally  on  all  that  ask  him.  Whatever  you  solicit, 
whatever  you  receive,  see  that  you  have  the  blessing 
which  sweetens,  wliich  sanctifies,  which  ennobles, 
which  improves  it* 

Finally,  vve  may  observe  the  dreadful  misery  of  that 
man  w  hose  heart  and  head  are  at  variance  ;  w  iiom  in- 
clination drags  one  way,  and  conscience  anotlier  ;  who 
Hvts  with  a  drawn  swoid  continually  hanging  over  his 
Lead  by  a  single  hair ;  forever  doing  what  he  is  con^ 
btiained  forever  to  condemn  ;  and  relwctandy  ready  to 
t^ecufe  the  judgment  of  God  upon  himself.     What 


itCT.   XVII.  1113  IoRY    or    BALAAM.  47^ 

dismal  and  unpleasant  pioiT;ress  must  be  make,  whd 
secb  an  anj^cl  in  arms  (  ppo.sini^  him  at  cvcrv  step,  ami 
whose  way  is  hedged  about  on  every  side  with  thorn-i 
oi  his  own  plantinij  ! 

BuLk  can  now  rtiVain  no  lonj^er,  but  sn\itinpj  togej 
thcr  his  hands,  in  a  rage  exclaims,  "  I  called  thee  to 
curse  mine  enemies,  and  behold  thou  ha;>t  ahogeiher 
blessed  them  the  c  t«'irec  times:  therefore  now  flee 
thou  to  thy  phice  :  I  thought  to  promote  thee  unto 
great  honor,  but  lo,  the  Loi  d  Imth  kept  thee  back  fron-^ 
honor,"  Verse  10,  11.  An  expostu'iiion  of  no  plea- 
sant complexion  ensues  ;  for  wlKit  is  the  friendship  of 
bad  men,  but  a  commerce  of  interest,  a  confederacy 
that  aims  only  at  self,  and  it  concludes  on  the  part  of 
Balaam  with  a  prediction  clearer,  fuller,  and  more 
pointed  than  ever,  (.f  Israel's  fi:\ory  and  Moab's  down- 
fal  :  And  he  took  up  his  parable  and  said,  Balaam,  the 
son  of  Beor,  hath  j>aid,  and  the  man  whose  eyes  arc 
open  hath  said  :  he  hath  said,  which  heard  the  w  ords 
of  God,  and  knew  the  knowledge  of  the  Most  High, 
which  saw  the  vision  of  the  Almighty,  falling  into  a 
trance,  but  having  his  eyes  open  :  I  shall  see  him,  but 
not  now  :  1  shall  behold  him,  but  not  nigh  :  there 
shall  come  a  star  out  (f  Jacob,  and  a  Sceptre  shall  rise 
out  of  Israel,  and  shall  smite  the  corners  of  Moab, 
and  destroy  all  the  children  of  Scth.  And  Edom  shall 
be  a  possession.  Scir  also  shall  be  a  possession  for  his 
enemies,  and  Israel  shall  do  valiantlv.  Out  of  Jacob 
shall  come  he  that  shall  have  dominion,  and  shall  de- 
stroy him  that  remaineth  of  the  city.  And  whtn  he 
looked  on  Amaiek,  he  took  up  his  parable  and  said, 
Amalek  was  the  first  of  the  nations,  but  his  latter  end 
shall  be  that  he  perish  fo  ever.  And  he  looked  on  the 
Kenites,  and  took  up  his  parable,  and  said.  Strong  is 
thy  d\^elling-place,  and  thou  puttest  thy  nest  in  a 
rock  ;  nevertheless,  the  Kenite  shall  be  wasted  until 
Ashur  shall  carry  tliec  away  captive.     And  he  took  u[x 


480  HISTORY   OF   BALAAM.  tECT.   XVII, 

his  parable,  and  said,  Alas,  who  shall  live  when  God 
doelh  this,"  Chiip.  xxiv.  15.. .23. 

The  burthen  of  this  prophecy  has  evidently  a  two- 
fold object,  the  one  improving  upon,  rising  above  and 
extending  beyond  the  other.  Its  primary  and  nearer 
object,  David,  God's  anointed  king,  to  crush  the  power 
of  the  enemy,  and  Moab  in  particular,  and  to  perfect 
the  conquest  of  the  promised  land.  Its  secondary  and 
more  remote  one,  though  first  in  point  of  importance, 
"  Jesus,  the  root  and  offspring  of  David."  In  the 
one,  Balak  saw. ^the  death  of  ali  his  earthly  hopes,  the 
approaching  dominion  of  a  hated  power,  established 
on  the  ruins  of  his  own  country.  In  the  other,  Balaam 
beheid  die  ruin  of  all  his  prospects  beyond  the  grave  ; 
a  light  that  should  shine  but  to  conduct  him  to  the 
place  of  punibhment  ;  a  Star  that  should  arise  to  shed 
the  mildest  influence  on  others,  but  only  to  breathe 
pestilence  and  death  upon  himself;  a  Ruler  who  should 
exercise  universal  dominion,  but  who,  while  he  pre- 
sided over  his  willing  and  obedient  subjects  in  mercy 
and  loving-kindness,  should  rule  rebels  like  him  with 
a  rod  of  iron.  Indeed  if  Balaam  had  any  pre- sentiment 
of  a  Saviour  when  he  uttered  this  prophecy,  as  is  highly 
probable,  his  cha'acter  is  the  most  detestable,  and  his 
condition  the  most  deplorable  that  can  be  imagained. 
Unhappy  man,  \\  ith  one  breath  preaching  the  unsearch- 
able riches  of  Christ  ro  a  guilty  M'orld,  and  with  the 
text,  teaching  the  arts  of  seduction  to  ensnare  the  in- 
nocent. In  words  exulting  in  the  greatest  blessing 
which  God  had  to  bestow  upon  mankind,  but  dread- 
fully conscious  to  himself  that  he  had  wilfully  rejected 
the  counsel  of  God  against  himself  With  all  the 
weight  and  importance  of  the  soul  and  eternity  before 
his  eyes,  but  tnis  world  stedfastiy  enthroned  in  his 
heart ;  a  prophet,  yet  a  reprobate,  descending  to  the 
grave  with  the  blood  of  thousands  upon  his  head. 

The  twenty-fifth  chapter  of  Numbers  contains  the 


LECT.  XVir.  HISTORY    OF    BALAAl^t.  ^^1 

history  of  the  stLimhling-block  \\hich  "  Balaam  taught 
Balak  to  cast  before    the   children  of  Israel. ...to  tat 
things  sacrificed  unto  idols,  and  tocommit  fornicatif>n," 
Rev.  ii.  M,  and  of  its  dreaclful  suc^:css    As  apropin  t  he 
could  not  hurt  Israel  ;   but  as  a  politician,  he  uniiappi'y 
prevails.      He  was  well  aware  where  their  strength  lay  ; 
and  unfortunately,  it  appears,  he  had  likewise  di'^cover- 
ed  their  weak  side.     Their  God  could  not  be  prevail- 
ed on  to  withdraw  his   protection  ;   but   m^v  not  they 
be  persuaded  or  allured   to  change  their  allegiance  ? 
This  will  do  the   \\ork  of  Satan  equally   well.     Israel 
was  now  at  ease,    with  the  promised  land  under  their 
eye,  and  part  of  it  already  in  their  possession.     They 
were   flushed  with   recent  victory,  assured  of  divine 
protection,  and   thereby   confident  of  farther  success. 
A  situation  full  of  danger  ;   for  then,  when  our  moun- 
tain seems  to  us  to  stand   most   strong,  we  are  most 
easily  liable  to  be  moved,  cast  down,  destroyed.     Ba- 
laam accordingly,   deep  read  as   he  was  in  the   book 
of  human    nature,  suggests   to   Balak   the   diabolical 
counsel  of  attempting  to  decoy  the  people  into  idolatry 
by  means  of  female  insinuation  and  address.     The  ex- 
periment is  made,  and  fatally  succeeds.      And  it  is  this 
counsel  which   stamps  the   character  of  Balaam   w  ith 
infamy  indellible  ;   as  it  exhibits  a  dissolution  of  m(  ral 
principle,   to  be  equalled  only  by   him  who  is  a  mur- 
derer from  the  beginning. 

Think  what  it  is  to  advise  a  father  to  expose  his 
daughter  to  prostitution :  think  what  it  is  to  devise 
and  to  encompass  the  death  of  one  fellow-creature, 
who  has  never  offended  us  :  think  of  the  malice  which 
aims  its  deadly  shaft,  not  at  the  body,  but  at  the  soul : 
think  of  the  presumption  which  flies  directly  in  the 
face  of  the  great  and  terrible  Jehovah,  and  defies  his 
power  :  and  then  think  of  a  vile  v,  retch,  recommend- 
ing the  prostitution  of  a  whole  nation  :  in  cold  blood 
plotting  the  destruction  of  myriads;  and  what  is 
worse,  infinitely  worse  than  any  temporal  evil,  re- 
VOL.  ir.  3  Q 


482  HISTORY  OF  BALAAM.  LECT.    XVII. 

morsclessly  involving  them  in  guilt  which  threatened 
eternal  ruin  :  and  all  this  under  the  character  of  a  pro- 
phet, whose  office  bound  him  to  call  the  people  away 
from  their  wickedness,  and  to  save  perishing  souls 
from  death  ;  and  all  for  what?  "  For  so  much  trash 
as  may  be  grasped  thus."  Base  passion,  what  canst 
thou  not  make  us  do?  "  Surely  the  heart  is  deceitful 
above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked  ;  who  can 
know  it?" 

The  history  of  Israel's  seduction,  in  consequence  of 
Balaam's  horrid  advice,  falls  not  within  our  present  de- 
sign, and  we  are  forbid  by  decency  to  pursue  it.  The 
guilt  of  this  fatal  defection  cost  no  less  than  twenty- 
lour  thousand  lives  of  them  who  died  of  the  plague, 
besides  those  who  suffered  by  the  hands  of  justice. 
So  horrid  are  the  sacrifices  which  pride,  ambition  and 
eovetousness,  arc  daily  offerin,Q;  up  !  So  dreadful  the 
havoc  \\  hich  ungoverued  passion  makes  amongst  the 
works  of  God  !....But  short  is  the  triumph  of  the  most 
successful  villany  :  remorse  embitters  the  enjoyment 
of  it,  and  justice  hastens  to  biing  it  to  a  period. 

In  the  very  first  attack  made  upon  Midian,  we  find 
Raiaam  in  arms,  supporting  his  pernicious  counsel  by 
tlie  sword  \  but  it  cannot  prosper  :  Midian  is  discom- 
iited  on  the  first  onset,  and  the  hoary  traitor  falls  un- 
pitied  in  the  field,  leaving  behind  him  a  name  to  be 
detested  and  despised  of  all  generations,  while  one  iota 
or  one  tittle  of  this  book  of  God  remains. 

We  shall  have  attended,  however,  to  the  history  of 
this  singular  man  in  vain,  unless  we  learn  from  it  the  in- 
finite danger  of  being  under  the  dominion  of  any  one 
ungovernable  passion  ;  and  unless  we  are  persuaded  to 
w aich  over,  to  resist,  and  tf)  subdue,  '*  the  sin  which 
doth  sp  easily  beset  us."  Of  little  avail  is  it  that  our 
vice  is  not  the  vice  which  governed,  ensnared  and 
ruined  BiJaani,  if  it  alienate  the  heart  from  God,  dis- 
solves the  obligations  of  religion,  disorder  the  under- 
standing, and  lull  the  conscienee  asleep.     One  disease 


LECT.  XVII.  iriSTOUY    OF    BALAAM.  48S 

for  another,  one  vice  for  another,  is  but  a  miserable  ex- 
change. If  the  patient  must  die,  it  will  not  alleviate 
one  pang,  that  he  perishes  by  the  fever  rather  than  the 
hydropsy,  the  consumption,  or  any  other  distemper. 

The  unrestrained  dominion  of  any  one  sinful  appe- 
tite must  become  fatal  at  length.  Covetousness,  pride, 
"lust,  envy,  malice,  revenge,  are  the  mortal  distempers 
of  tl.e  sf)ul,  which,  perhaps  insensibly,  but  most  cer- 
tainly, arc  impairing  its  beauty,  and  wascing  its  strength. 
"  Lust,"  whatever  be  its  particular  name,.  "  having 
conceived,  bringeth  forth  sin  ;  aird  sin,  when  it  is 
finished,  bringeth  forth  death."  Instead,  therefore, 
of  amusing  or  of  perplexing  himself  wl;h  inquiries 
into  the  general  symptoms  of  disease,  it  concerns 
every  man  to  study  his  own  particular  case  ;  to  watcii 
against  *'  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset  him  ;"  to 
keep  himself  from  his  iniquity  ;  to  discover,  and  to 
rectifv  the  disorder  of  his  own  constitution,  "  the 
plague  of  his  om  n  hesrt."  That  where  he  is  naturally, 
or*  by  habit,  weak,  he  may  become  strong,  "  through 
the  grace  that  is  in  Christ." 

Let  us  be  instructed  to  ■'/alue  qualities,  whether  na- 
tural or  acquired,  not  from  their  currency  and  estima- 
tion in  the  world,  but  from  their  appearance  in  the  sight 
of  God.  ' '  As  the  heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth, 
so  are  my  ways  higher  than  your  ways,  and  my  thoughts 
than  your  thoughts,"  Isa.  Iv.  9.  ^'-  By  Him  actions 
are  weighed."  By  his  judgment  we  must  stand  or 
fall.  Has  Heaven  blessed  thee,  O  man,  with  extra- 
ordinary gifts  ?  Let  it  be  a  motive  to  humility,  not  a 
source  of  pride.  It  is  a  trust  of  which  thou  must 
render  an  account ;  and  "  to  whom  men  have  com- 
mitted much,  of  him  they  will  require  the  more." 
If  he  who  buries  his  one  talent  in  the  ground  be  cri- 
minal, what  shall  become  of  that  man  who  dissipates 
and  destrovs  ten  in  riotous  living'? 

There  is  but  one  road  to  a  happy  end. ...a  holy  life. 
There  is  but  one  ground  of  hope,  in  death,  tea  guilty 


484  HISTORY   OF   BALAAM.  LECT  XVII. 

creature.. ..the  mercy  of  God  through  a  Redeemer. 
Abraham  saw  the  Saviour's  day  afar  off,  belived  and 
rejoiced.  Balaam  saw  itaffar  cff,  persisted  in  impeni- 
tence and  unbelif,  and  died  w  ithout  hope.  On  the 
one,  "  the  Star  of  Jacob"  darted  a  mild  and  healthful 
influence,  which  cheered  the  path  of  life,  and  dispel- 
led the  he nors  of  the  grave.  On  the  other  it  shot  a 
baleful  fire  v\  hich  drunk  up  the  spirits,  blasted  present 
enjo)  ment,  and  increased  the  gloom  of  futurity.... 
Arise,  O  Star  of  Jacob,  arise  upon  my  head  with  heal- 
ing in  thy  wijigs  !  Let  me  walk  in  thy  light;  let  me 
*'  hasten  to  the  brightnei^s  of  thy  rising  !"  Chris- 
tian, "  arise,  shine  :  for  thy  light  is  come,  and  the 
glory  of  the  Lord  is  risen  upon  thee."  Beloved,  now 
are  we  the  sons  of  God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear 
what  we  shall  be  :  but  we  know  that,  when  he  shall 
appear,  Me  shall  be  like  him  ;  for  we  shall  sec  him  as 
he  is."  1  John  iii  '2.  "  For  ye  are  dead,  and  your 
life  is  hid  \\  ith  Christ  in  God.  When  Christ,  who  is 
our  life,  shall  appear,  then  shall  ye  also  appear  with 
him  in  glory,"  Col.  iii.  3,  4. 


END   OF  VOLUME    II. 


JHOP.EP.f  CRUMBIE.    PRUifER. 


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